Rachael Alamu, the abducted principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle in Oriire LGA, Oyo state says the gunmen who kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers are neither demanding money nor calling for the implementation of Sharia law as a condition for their release.
In a new video released on Monday, Alamu said their abductors are only demanding the release of some of their gang members who are in custody.
The abducted principal said those spreading claims that the abductors are demanding N1 billion and the implementation of Sharia law are creating problems for the victims.
She added that since they have been in captivity, the abductors have not forced them to practice Islam or worship in any particular way.
“I have come to make some clarifications. Today makes it the 24th day that we have been in this place, and it seems that some people are already making our problem more complicated,” she said.
“We were shown some print media where it was stated that these people who abducted us requested the release of some people, they requested one billion naira, and they requested for Sharia to be entrenched in the country; these are not true. They are just trying to create problems for us.
“We have been here, and since then, we have not been forced to worship in an Islamic way. We have been left alone; they have not troubled us concerning that. The single thing they are asking for is the release of some of their people.
“Nigerians, our lives are in your hands. Help us make this go viral. Don’t let the government deceive the whole world. They are not asking for Sharia, money, and weapons. All they want is the release of some of their people.
On May 15, suspected bandits attacked three schools in the Oriire LGA, abducting about 39 students and seven teachers.
The incident sparked widespread outrage, culminating in nationwide protests for two days by members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and other stakeholders.
On June 3, members of the Oyo State House of Assembly rejected calls for the state government to negotiate with kidnappers over the rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers.
During the plenary, Adebo Ogundoyin, Speaker of the Assembly, warned that any engagement with the kidnappers could encourage further attacks and strengthen criminal networks.
“If it were up to you, would you negotiate with terrorists? If they asked for weapons, money, or concessions of future laws of this land as part of their ransom, if you were the governor, would you accept that? Would you accept those people to be integrated into that community?” the Speaker said.
“We don’t know the details. So, please, let’s be sensitive and calm. You do not know the details. The more you negotiate with these people, the more you embolden them.”
The Speaker’s comment triggered a wave of fake news on social media.
