APC Guber Candidate Sharafadeen Alli Gifts Brand-New Toyota Camry to Rescued Oyo Principal

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has donated a brand-new Toyota Camry to Mrs Rachael Alamu, the principal of Community High School, Esiele, Oriire Local Government Area, following her release from captivity. The presentation took place after Mrs Alamu and other abducted victims were formally handed over to Governor Seyi Makinde at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, where the emotional reunion unfolded before officials and family members who had gathered to receive the rescued victims. Photos shared by Ibadan-based radio station Yes FM showed Alli presenting the vehicle alongside the member representing Afijio/Oyo East/Oyo West/Atiba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Akeem Adeyemi, as the principal received the gift with visible appreciation and gratitude. The gesture has drawn attention to the sacrifices teachers continue to make while serving in vulnerable rural communities, with many describing it as a compassionate intervention that recognizes the dedication of educators who put their lives on the line in the service of their students. Mrs Alamu was among the teachers and pupils abducted on May 15, 2026, when gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area—Community High School, Esiele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, plunging the entire state into mourning and sparking widespread calls for improved security in educational institutions across Oyo State. The victims regained their freedom on Friday after spending 56 days in captivity, bringing relief to their families and the entire Oyo State community, who had endured weeks of anxiety and uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.

After her rescue, a video shared online showed the visibly emotional principal asking security operatives about her husband and her vehicle, her voice trembling with relief and concern as she sought reassurance that her loved ones were safe. She later explained that she initially believed the police had recovered her car before learning that her abductors had burnt it, adding another layer of distress to the trauma she had already endured during the long weeks in captivity. Recounting her harrowing experience after being officially received by Governor Makinde, Mrs Alamu revealed the gruesome details of their 56-day ordeal in the forest, painting a vivid picture of the suffering and deprivation they endured at the hands of their captors. She disclosed that the kidnappers repeatedly forced the captives to undertake dangerous night-time treks through forests whenever they feared security operatives were closing in on their hideouts, subjecting already traumatized victims to additional physical and psychological stress. “When the place was discovered, we had to move, and that usually started around seven or eight at night. Sometimes we walked for three to four hours. That is why you see bruises on our bodies,” she said, explaining the visible marks of their arduous journeys through difficult terrain. She explained that the younger children were carried by the kidnappers, but older pupils had to endure the exhausting journeys, often falling multiple times due to fatigue and the challenging forest conditions. “The younger ones were carried, but the older children had to walk. They fell many times. It was very difficult,” she recounted, her voice heavy with the memory of the children’s suffering during those forced nocturnal movements.

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Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has donated a brand-new Toyota Camry to Mrs Rachael Alamu

Mrs Alamu also disclosed that the abductors subjected the victims to extreme cruelty to maintain silence and avoid detection, employing harsh methods to control their captives and prevent any attempts at escape or communication with the outside world. “Personally, I was not beaten, but some of the children were beaten. What they hated most was noise because they believed it could attract attention. The youngest children suffered the most. They would tie their mouths with pieces of cloth and beat them very well,” she revealed, describing the systematic brutality directed at the most vulnerable among them. The male teachers endured even harsher treatment during the 56-day captivity, facing additional restraints and harsher conditions than their female counterparts. “The men had it worse than us. They were blindfolded, handcuffed and chained on their legs,” she said, highlighting the gender-based disparity in the treatment of captives. Despite the harsh conditions and the constant threat of violence, the principal stated that none of the victims was sexually assaulted during the period in captivity, offering a small measure of relief in an otherwise harrowing narrative of abuse and deprivation.

During her emotional account, Mrs Alamu revealed that two teachers lost their lives during the ordeal, a loss that has cast a shadow over the relief of the victims’ rescue and reunification with their families. The mathematics teacher, Mr Michael Oyedokun, was killed on the second day of their captivity, while Deacon Esiyan Adegboye was murdered on the first Sunday of June, their deaths serving as brutal reminders of the kidnappers’ willingness to commit murder to achieve their demands. “There are times when we had hope that we won’t come out alive. Mr Michael was killed on the second day we got there. Deacon was killed on the first Sunday of June. They killed them purposely because they felt that would force the hand of the government to give them whatever they wanted,” she recounted, her words echoing the trauma of witnessing colleagues murdered in cold blood. The abductors also subjected the victims to psychological torture, repeatedly telling them that the government had abandoned them and was no longer interested in securing their release, employing mental manipulation alongside physical abuse. “Many times, they used fear to subdue us. At one point they told us the government wasn’t interested in our case anymore because they didn’t value us,” she recalled, describing the psychological warfare that compounded the physical suffering of the 56-day captivity.

Senator Alli explained that the vehicle donation was in recognition of Mrs Alamu’s exceptional leadership, resilience, and motherly courage during the traumatic experience, highlighting her role in protecting and caring for the abducted pupils throughout the ordeal. A statement on his campaign Facebook page read: “The donation was in recognition of the exceptional leadership, resilience, and motherly courage Mrs Alamu displayed during her traumatic experience in the captivity of her abductors. Her composure, strength of character, and unwavering determination in the face of adversity have inspired many across Oyo State,” reflecting the admiration many have expressed for the principal’s strength under unimaginable circumstances. The APC governorship candidate described the gift as “a modest token of appreciation” for her courage and a demonstration of solidarity with victims of insecurity, emphasizing that such acts of exceptional character deserve recognition and encouragement from public figures. The statement further noted that the gesture reflected Alli’s belief that “acts of exceptional character and sacrifice deserve recognition and encouragement,” positioning the donation within a broader commitment to honouring those who display extraordinary courage in service to others.

The rescued victims were officially received by Governor Seyi Makinde at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, where he expressed relief at their safe return and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting its citizens. Speaking during the handover, Governor Makinde called on the United Nations and international human rights organisations to conduct a full-scale independent investigation into the abduction, describing the circumstances as “sufficiently grave and unusual to warrant independent scrutiny beyond our domestic institutions,” signalling the gravity with which his administration views the incident. The governor announced that the state government would immediately strengthen oversight of all access routes leading into and out of the Old Oyo National Park through adjoining local government areas, taking proactive measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. He also directed that the rescued pupils and teachers be reunited with their families immediately, describing the reunion as a critical step towards emotional healing after nearly two months in captivity, acknowledging the psychological scars that such ordeals leave behind. The BSA Diaspora Vanguard North America Chapter praised Senator Alli for his “swift and compassionate intervention,” describing the gesture as a reflection of true leadership, empathy, and commitment to the welfare of citizens. “Leadership is about showing up for the people, especially in their darkest moments. Barr. Sharafadeen Alli has demonstrated empathy, responsiveness, and commitment to the welfare of Oyo State citizens,” the group stated, commending the APC candidate for his responsiveness to the needs of victims and their families. Residents and stakeholders in Oriire Local Government also commended the senator’s gesture, describing it as a compassionate intervention and a fitting recognition of the sacrifices and dedication of teachers serving under challenging conditions, with many calling for similar support for the families of the two teachers who lost their lives during the kidnapping.

APC Guber Candidate Sharafadeen Alli Gifts Brand-New Toyota Camry to Rescued Oyo Principal