Public outrage over the abduction of the Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, and several others deepened on Monday after a viral video emerged from captivity showing the visibly distressed educator pleading with Nigerians not to believe claims that their captors were demanding the implementation of Sharia law as a condition for their release.
Speaking in an emotion-laden voice, Alamu appealed directly to the public, urging citizens to seek the truth about their ordeal and not allow misleading narratives to distract attention from the urgent need to secure their freedom.
The coordinated kidnapping occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, at about 9:30 a.m., when gunmen invaded the area and whisked away the victims. More than three weeks later, those abducted remain in captivity, heightening fears among their families and communities.
The incident has triggered widespread condemnation across Oyo State and beyond. In response, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) directed its members across the state to embark on an indefinite strike until the kidnapped principal and other victims are safely rescued. The action has disrupted academic activities in many public schools while drawing national attention to the worsening security situation.
Pressure on authorities intensified on Monday as hundreds of angry residents in Ogbomoso took to the streets, blocking major highways and key state roads in a demonstration that caused severe traffic congestion and brought commercial activities to a standstill in parts of the city.
Many protesters had also expressed frustration over what they described as the government’s slow response to the abduction. Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, they demanded immediate action to secure the release of the victims and restore public confidence in the state’s security architecture.
One of the demonstrators, Kehinde Dahunsi, questioned why the abductees had remained in captivity for so long despite repeated appeals from family members, labour groups and concerned citizens.
“What will it take for both the government at the centre and the state government to rescue our beloved ones since May 15? This is so pathetic,” he lamented.
Dahunsi drew comparisons with the recent abduction of the sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, and her twin children, who were reportedly kidnapped on June 3 and rescued three days later.
“The former Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu’s biological sister and her twin children were kidnapped on June 3 and rescued on June 6. That was just three days. Why have our own people remained in captivity for weeks?” he asked.
The comparison has become a rallying point for protesters, many of whom argue that every Nigerian life deserves the same urgency and commitment from security agencies regardless of social status or political influence.
As anxiety grows among relatives of the victims, residents say the prolonged captivity has left many families traumatised and uncertain about the fate of their loved ones. The latest video from Mrs. Alamu has only heightened public concern, turning what began as a local security incident into a national conversation about kidnapping, government response and the value placed on ordinary citizens’ lives.
