Residents of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, on Monday staged another protest demanding the release of more than 40 schoolchildren and teachers abducted by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area, 25 days after the incident occurred.
The victims, who were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, include pupils and staff of Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School, Esiele. They have remained in captivity since the attack.
Hundreds of residents took to the streets, blocking major highways and roads within Ogbomoso to express frustration over what they described as the slow response to the rescue efforts.
One of the protesters, Kehinde Dahunsi, questioned why the government had not secured the release of the victims despite the length of time they had spent in captivity.
He compared the situation to the recent rescue of the sister of former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and her twin sons, who were rescued within days of their abduction.
“Our people have been in captivity for 25 days. We want the government to apply the same urgency and strategy used in other rescue operations to bring our loved ones home,” he said.
Meanwhile, a fresh twist emerged after the abducted principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, appeared in a viral video from captivity, disputing reports that the kidnappers were demanding the implementation of Sharia law in Nigeria.
In the emotional video, Alamu appealed to Nigerians not to allow misinformation to worsen their situation.
She stated that neither she nor the other captives had been forced to practise any religion and insisted that the kidnappers were not demanding money, weapons, or the introduction of Sharia law.
According to her, the abductors were only seeking the release of some individuals currently in government custody.
“Today makes it 24 days that we have been here. Some people are making our problems more complicated,” she said.
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“We were shown reports claiming these people asked for one billion naira and that Sharia law should be introduced. That is not true.
“They have not forced us to worship in any way. They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money. All they want is the release of some of their people.”
Alamu urged Nigerians to help spread her message and appealed to the authorities to negotiate with the kidnappers to secure the freedom of the victims.
“Please, don’t play politics with our lives. Nigerians, help us circulate this message. Don’t let the government deceive the whole world,” she pleaded.
The abduction triggered outrage across Oyo State, prompting the Nigerian Union of Teachers to direct its members to embark on a strike until the victims are rescued.
The continued captivity of the pupils and teachers has intensified calls for stronger security measures and urgent intervention from both the state and federal governments.
