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Rachael Folawe Alamu, the principal of Community High School, Esiele, who was abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has rejected reports of a ransom demand allegedly made by her abductors and appealed to the Nigerian government to secure the release of her and others still held captive.
Alamu was abducted on May 15 when armed terrorists attacked her community and kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers.
In a video that surfaced online, the principal urged authorities not to politicise their plight and dismissed reports that the kidnappers had demanded a N1 billion ransom, weapons, or the imposition of Sharia law in Nigeria.
“Please, I have come to make some clarifications. Today makes it the 25th day that we have been in this place, and it seems that some people are already making our problems more complicated. We were shown some print media reports stating that the people who abducted us requested the release of some people,” she said.
“That they requested N1 billion, that they requested that Sharia be entrenched in the country—these are not true. They are just trying to create problems for us. We have been here, and we have not been forced to worship in an Islamic way. We have been left alone. They have not troubled us concerning that. They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money.”
According to Alamu, the abductors’ only demand is the release of some of their associates.
“The single thing they are asking for is the release of some of their people. I don’t know why they are peddling this rumour to make it complicated for us,” she added.
She pleaded with the government and the public to help secure their freedom.
“Please, we are just begging you. Don’t play politics with our lives. Nigerians, please help us circulate this message. Let it go viral. They are not asking for Sharia law. It is not true. They are not asking for weapons. They are not asking for money.
“All they want is the release of some people, and the government should negotiate with them and determine those they can release. I don’t know why they are playing politics with our lives.”
Alamu also urged Nigerians to amplify her message and prevent what she described as attempts to misrepresent the situation to the international community.
“Please, Nigerians, our lives are in your hands. Help us make this go viral. Don’t let the government deceive the whole world,” she said.
