“Sharia Law Demand is False” — Kidnapped Oyo Vice Principal Reveals Real Condition for Release

“Sharia Law Demand is False” — Kidnapped Oyo Vice Principal Reveals Real Condition for Release

IBADAN, NIGERIA — In a dramatic and emotional video statement released today, the kidnapped Vice Principal of Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele, in Oyo State, Mrs. Rachael Folawe Alamu, has strongly refuted viral reports claiming that her captors are demanding the implementation of Sharia law as a condition for the release of dozens of abducted schoolchildren and teachers. Speaking under duress but with remarkable clarity, Mrs. Alamu described the Sharia law narrative as “totally false” and pleaded with both the federal and state governments to focus on the real demand of the armed group holding them hostage.

Contrary to widespread disinformation circulating on social media, the Vice Principal stated that the abductors have made only one consistent demand. She declared in the video, “The reports going round that the terrorists are asking for the implementation of Sharia law is totally false. They only want their detained members to be released.” Mrs. Alamu emphasized that no religious or ideological conditions have been placed on the hostages’ freedom. She appealed to the government to verify facts before reacting to rumours, warning that false narratives could endanger the lives of the remaining captives.

In her most impassioned moment, Mrs. Alamu begged government officials — from President Bola Tinubu down to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde — to resist the temptation to politicize the hostage crisis. “This is not about politics. This is about innocent children and teachers who have spent weeks in the bush, exposed to cold, rain, and sun,” she said. “Please, do not play politics with our condition. Just negotiate with them. Dialogue with them. Force will only get us killed.” Her plea comes nearly three weeks after the abduction, which occurred during coordinated attacks on schools in the Ogbomoso area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026.

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The false Sharia law claim began circulating widely on social media platforms, with unverified posts alleging that the kidnappers had issued four demands including a N1 billion ransom payable into a Benin Republic bank account, two Hilux vehicles, the release of prison inmates, and the implementation of Sharia law in Oyo State. However, Mrs. Alamu’s video directly contradicts these claims, and no independent verification has supported the original rumours. The Vice Principal stressed that spreading such misinformation only worsens the situation for the hostages.

The false reports had already provoked outrage, prompting the Muslim Community in Oyo State to issue a formal statement rejecting any link between the kidnappers and Islamic law. In a statement signed by Chairman Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni and Secretary-General Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, the group said, “The protection of human life remains a fundamental principle of Islam. These criminals do not represent our faith. The public should not associate their actions with any religion.”

So far, the Oyo State Government has maintained that security agencies are working on a rescue mission. Governor Seyi Makinde has assured citizens that federal operatives have been deployed to the forests where the hostages are believed to be held. However, the Oyo State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin, has rejected calls for direct negotiation, arguing that paying ransoms or negotiating with terrorists would embolden criminal networks. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has yet to issue an official response to Mrs. Alamu’s latest video.

The case has drawn national and international attention due to the involvement of schoolchildren, the gruesome killing of teacher Michael Oyedokun by the captors earlier in the crisis, and now the explosive misinformation about Sharia law that threatened to inflame religious tensions in the South-West region. Mrs. Alamu’s statement serves as both a clarification and a cry for help — one that places the responsibility for truth and action squarely on government shoulders. As the standoff continues, all eyes remain on the security forces and the presidency. For the families of the abducted children and teachers, every hour feels like an eternity. One thing is now clear: the real demand is not about religion or ideology. It is about prisoners — and the government must decide whether to negotiate, raid, or risk further loss of innocent lives.

“Sharia Law Demand is False” — Kidnapped Oyo Vice Principal Reveals Real Condition for Release