Abducted Oyo Principal Appeals To Tinubu, Makinde For Dialogue With Abductors

The abducted principal of Community Grammar School, Esinele, Mrs Folawe Alamu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, to adopt dialogue rather than force in efforts to secure her release and other victims still held by abductors.

In a video posted on Instagram on Friday by social media influencer Temilola Sobola, a visibly distressed Alamu said she and other captives, including children, had spent 13 days in the bush under harsh weather conditions.

“We are in the cold, we are under the sun, we are under the rain, the children and the adults as well. Please, we are begging you, don’t let them waste our lives,” she said.

She also appealed to the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to intervene, warning that any attempt to use force could endanger the lives of the captives.

“The force they used yesterday has cost us so much. It has added to our problems. In fact, someone among us has been picked, and they are going to kill him because the government tried to rescue us by force.
“We don’t need force. All they have to do is negotiate with them and secure our release. Please, just negotiate with them and dialogue with them,” she added.

The appeal comes nearly two weeks after gunmen attacked three schools — Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele; Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; and L.A. Primary School, Alawusa — and abducted seven teachers and 39 students on May 15, 2026.

During the attack, a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by the gunmen while in captivity.

A motorcyclist was also killed, while a security operative died after reportedly stepping on an improvised explosive device planted by the abductors during early rescue operations.

Sources said the abductors later opened communication with the state government but refused to speak directly with families of the victims, insisting on negotiating only with the governor.

Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde, while receiving visitors during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration in Ibadan, assured residents that efforts were ongoing to secure the safe return of the abducted victims.

The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, also said additional detectives had been deployed from Force Headquarters in Abuja to support the rescue operation, while the Defence Headquarters said troops had made contact with the abductors and were working toward securing the release of the victims.