The abducted principal of Community Grammar School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, has again appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to negotiate with her captors rather than launch forceful rescue operations.
In an emotional video shared on Instagram on Friday, the visibly distressed principal revealed that she and other abductees, including schoolchildren, had spent 13 days in captivity under harsh conditions in the bush.
In the new video, Mrs Alamu, who was abducted alongside students and teachers broke down in tears while appealing to the President and governor Makinde to jettison the use of force to rescue them.
She expressed the fear that the terrorists might have marked one of them for life – threatening torture to force the authority to negotiate.
“We are in the cold, under the sun and in the rain — both the children and the adults. Please, we are begging you, don’t let them waste our lives,” she pleaded.
Mrs. Alamu also called on the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Christian Association of Nigeria to intervene, warning that recent security operations had worsened the captives’ situation.
“The force they used yesterday has cost us so much. It has added to our problems. In fact, one of us has been taken away and they are threatening to kill him because the government attempted to rescue us by force,” she said.
“We don’t need force. All they have to do is negotiate and secure our release. Please, let there be dialogue.”
The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, after gunmen attacked three schools in the area — Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele; Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yamota; and L.A. Primary School, Alawusa.
The attack reportedly resulted in the abduction of seven teachers and 39 students.
Tragedy also struck during the incident as a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded. A motorcyclist and a security operative were also killed during rescue attempts after encountering improvised explosive devices allegedly planted by the kidnappers.
Sources disclosed that the abductors later opened communication with the Oyo State Government but refused to negotiate with families of the victims, insisting on speaking directly with Governor Makinde.
Governor Makinde had earlier assured residents that efforts were ongoing to secure the safe release of all abducted victims.
