Oyo Abduction: Principal in Captivity Warns Military Action Could Trigger Massacre of 46 Hostages

Oyo Abduction: Principal in Captivity Warns Military Action Could Trigger Massacre of 46 Hostages

Oyo State, Nigeria – A fresh video released by kidnappers holding 46 victims in Oyo State has shown one of the abductees, school principal Rachael Alamu, appealing directly to the Federal Government to pursue dialogue instead of military force, warning that a planned rescue operation could get them all killed. The video was uploaded online after President Bola Tinubu ordered the deployment of additional security personnel to secure the release of the victims, who have been held captive by an armed gang for over two weeks.

Speaking under duress from an undisclosed location within a forest in Oriire Local Government Area, Alamu said the kidnappers became agitated following reports that security operatives had been sent into the area. “We learned that yesterday some army was sent, and that has compounded our problems. It has added to our troubles,” she said in the video. According to the principal, the development has heightened tensions inside the kidnappers’ camp, with the abductors allegedly threatening retaliation if security forces attempt to enter the bush.

In a desperate plea, Alamu revealed that the captors had already selected one hostage for possible execution, accusing authorities of relying on force rather than engaging through negotiations. “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. They should not use force. The force they have used yesterday has caused us so much. In fact, one of us has been picked that they are going to kill him because the government tried to help us by force,” she said. She appealed directly to government officials and security agencies to consider non-military options. “We are pleading with you not to force yourself into the bush, but please call them and dialogue with them so that the problem can be solved, and we will be able to go home alive.”

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The abductee further alleged that the kidnappers had threatened to kill all the victims if security personnel returned to the area. “They have promised to kill all of us if any of the armies come into the bush again. Please, we are pleading with you. We are begging you in the name of God,” she added.

The mass kidnapping occurred on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed gunmen simultaneously raided three schools in Oriire Local Government Area: Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele; Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School; and L.A. Primary School. According to community leaders and official reports, 46 people were taken hostage. This includes seven teachers and 39 students, with some reports indicating the number of children could be as high as 46 depending on the source. The victims range in age from just two years old to 16 years old. Among the abducted is a two-year-old toddler, Christianah Akanbi, and a nursing mother, Mary Akanbi, who is one of the teachers.

In response to the crisis, President Tinubu authorized a significant security surge in Oyo State. A high-powered delegation led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa visited the affected communities. The President has approved the immediate recruitment of 1,000 local forest guards to secure forest corridors often used as hideouts by criminal gangs. Additionally, a specialized tactical unit has been deployed to Ogbomoso to coordinate the rescue effort. However, authorities have stated that the operation will be “intelligence-led” to prioritize the safety of the hostages. The Presidency has also defended its strategy of operational secrecy, arguing that public updates could compromise security efforts. “The kidnappers are on social media with us and follow the trends to get updates,” a presidential aide said.

The trauma of the event has paralyzed normal life in Oyo State. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) declared an indefinite, open-ended strike starting Monday, June 1, protesting against the continued detention of their colleagues and students. Parents have kept children home from school, and there is widespread fear across the affected communities.

Oyo Abduction: Principal in Captivity Warns Military Action Could Trigger Massacre of 46 Hostages