Kidnapped Oyo School Principal Begs Tinubu, Makinde To Negotiate With Abductors After Failed Rescue Attempt
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May 29, 2026
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In a new viral video recorded from captivity, the visibly distressed principal of Community High School, Esiele, in Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to negotiate with the terrorists holding abducted teachers and schoolchildren, warning that a failed rescue attempt by security operatives had further endangered the captives.
Mrs. Alamu said the use of force by security agencies had worsened their situation, revealing that one of the abductees had allegedly been selected for execution after the attempted rescue operation.
“Please, I am here again to beg the government, President Tinubu and the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, to please help us and dialogue with these people,” she pleaded.
“They should not use force. The force they used yesterday has caused us so much pain and added to our problems. In fact, one of us has been picked and they said they are going to kill him because the government tried to rescue us by force.
“We want you to call them and negotiate with them so that our lives can be saved.”
In another video, speaking in Yoruba, Mrs. Alamu passionately appealed for mercy, saying the victims had endured harsh conditions in captivity.
“Please help us. We beg you in the name of God, have mercy on us. This is too much. Under the sun and in the rain, both old and young, we are all together here.
“Today makes it 13 days since we were kidnapped. We don’t want you to fight them at all. Whatever they ask for, please give it to them,” she said.
One of the abducted teachers, Mary Akanbi, who is nursing a baby, also appealed to Governor Makinde to negotiate with the kidnappers.
“We are pleading with Governor Seyi Makinde, please help us and negotiate with these people. Whatever they want, please give it to them. We are all here — teachers and students,” she said.
Mrs. Alamu was among several teachers, pupils and residents abducted when heavily armed gunmen invaded schools and communities in the Esiele and Yawota areas of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the attackers stormed LA Primary School and Community Grammar School in Ahoro-Esiele Community, shooting sporadically and throwing residents and pupils into panic.
The attack reportedly claimed the life of at least one teacher, while Mrs. Alamu, two vice principals and three other teachers were abducted alongside several pupils.
In an earlier video recorded in captivity, the principal appealed to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and Nigerians to intervene peacefully to prevent further loss of lives.
“I am making this video to ask for help from everyone, starting from the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Oyo State Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria, and all well-meaning Nigerians, to come to our aid and resolve this peacefully so that our lives will not be lost,” she had said.
The latest video surfaced amid growing tension in the affected communities following reports that security agencies launched operations around forest areas believed to be the kidnappers’ hideouts.
Earlier, the Oyo State Government disclosed that security operatives had sealed off escape routes connected to the abductors within the National Park axis.
The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, said coordinated operations involving the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence Agro Rangers, the Nigeria Police Force, Amotekun operatives and local hunters were ongoing to rescue the victims.
According to the government, intelligence reports indicated that the gunmen were still operating within forest corridors around Oyo State.
Distraught parents and residents have continued to call for urgent intervention to secure the release of the abducted teachers and children.
One of the mothers, Mrs. Aduke Balogun, in an earlier viral video seen by SaharaReporters, tearfully recounted how gunmen dressed in military uniforms invaded the community and abducted her daughter, Kehinde Kaosara.
“In Esiele, we are begging you. Our children went to school. It was after 9am that we realised kidnappers had invaded. They wore Army uniforms,” she said.
“Before we understood what was happening, they started shooting and everyone ran for safety. Later, I saw my daughter, Kehinde Kaosara, among the abducted children.
“We are begging the government to bring back our children alive.”
Residents also told SaharaReporters that the terrorists forced Mrs. Alamu to drive the abducted children into a forest reserve in her Toyota Corolla before setting the vehicle ablaze.
Chairman of the Esiele community, Amusa Wakilu, confirmed that the burnt vehicle was later found near one of the entrances to the forest.
A local farmer, Micheal Ojo, whose children and relatives were among the victims, narrated how the gunmen compelled the principal to transport the children deeper into the bush after killing a teacher during the attack.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, dressed in military camouflage, invaded the communities while many residents were away on their farms.
Aside from the abducted victims, a commercial motorcyclist and an assistant headmaster identified as Joel Adesiyan were reportedly killed during the coordinated attacks, while several motorcycles were stolen by the fleeing gunmen.
The incident has further heightened concerns over worsening insecurity in Oyo State, especially in communities located around forest reserves increasingly associated with armed gangs and kidnappers.
Mrs. Alamu said the use of force by security agencies had worsened their situation, revealing that one of the abductees had allegedly been selected for execution after the attempted rescue operation.
“Please, I am here again to beg the government, President Tinubu and the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, to please help us and dialogue with these people,” she pleaded.
“They should not use force. The force they used yesterday has caused us so much pain and added to our problems. In fact, one of us has been picked and they said they are going to kill him because the government tried to rescue us by force.
“We want you to call them and negotiate with them so that our lives can be saved.”
In another video, speaking in Yoruba, Mrs. Alamu passionately appealed for mercy, saying the victims had endured harsh conditions in captivity.
“Please help us. We beg you in the name of God, have mercy on us. This is too much. Under the sun and in the rain, both old and young, we are all together here.
“Today makes it 13 days since we were kidnapped. We don’t want you to fight them at all. Whatever they ask for, please give it to them,” she said.
One of the abducted teachers, Mary Akanbi, who is nursing a baby, also appealed to Governor Makinde to negotiate with the kidnappers.
“We are pleading with Governor Seyi Makinde, please help us and negotiate with these people. Whatever they want, please give it to them. We are all here — teachers and students,” she said.
Mrs. Alamu was among several teachers, pupils and residents abducted when heavily armed gunmen invaded schools and communities in the Esiele and Yawota areas of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the attackers stormed LA Primary School and Community Grammar School in Ahoro-Esiele Community, shooting sporadically and throwing residents and pupils into panic.
The attack reportedly claimed the life of at least one teacher, while Mrs. Alamu, two vice principals and three other teachers were abducted alongside several pupils.
In an earlier video recorded in captivity, the principal appealed to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and Nigerians to intervene peacefully to prevent further loss of lives.
“I am making this video to ask for help from everyone, starting from the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Oyo State Government, the Christian Association of Nigeria, and all well-meaning Nigerians, to come to our aid and resolve this peacefully so that our lives will not be lost,” she had said.
The latest video surfaced amid growing tension in the affected communities following reports that security agencies launched operations around forest areas believed to be the kidnappers’ hideouts.
Earlier, the Oyo State Government disclosed that security operatives had sealed off escape routes connected to the abductors within the National Park axis.
The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, said coordinated operations involving the Nigerian Army, Civil Defence Agro Rangers, the Nigeria Police Force, Amotekun operatives and local hunters were ongoing to rescue the victims.
According to the government, intelligence reports indicated that the gunmen were still operating within forest corridors around Oyo State.
Distraught parents and residents have continued to call for urgent intervention to secure the release of the abducted teachers and children.
One of the mothers, Mrs. Aduke Balogun, in an earlier viral video seen by SaharaReporters, tearfully recounted how gunmen dressed in military uniforms invaded the community and abducted her daughter, Kehinde Kaosara.
“In Esiele, we are begging you. Our children went to school. It was after 9am that we realised kidnappers had invaded. They wore Army uniforms,” she said.
“Before we understood what was happening, they started shooting and everyone ran for safety. Later, I saw my daughter, Kehinde Kaosara, among the abducted children.
“We are begging the government to bring back our children alive.”
Residents also told SaharaReporters that the terrorists forced Mrs. Alamu to drive the abducted children into a forest reserve in her Toyota Corolla before setting the vehicle ablaze.
Chairman of the Esiele community, Amusa Wakilu, confirmed that the burnt vehicle was later found near one of the entrances to the forest.
A local farmer, Micheal Ojo, whose children and relatives were among the victims, narrated how the gunmen compelled the principal to transport the children deeper into the bush after killing a teacher during the attack.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, dressed in military camouflage, invaded the communities while many residents were away on their farms.
Aside from the abducted victims, a commercial motorcyclist and an assistant headmaster identified as Joel Adesiyan were reportedly killed during the coordinated attacks, while several motorcycles were stolen by the fleeing gunmen.
The incident has further heightened concerns over worsening insecurity in Oyo State, especially in communities located around forest reserves increasingly associated with armed gangs and kidnappers.
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