Rachael Alamu, one of the teachers abducted alongside schoolchildren in Oriire LGA of Oyo state, has denied reports that their captors demanded N1 billion ransom, weapons, or the imposition of Sharia law in south-west Nigeria.
In a viral video seen by ALO 360, the school principal appealed to Nigerians to disregard what she described as false reports, saying that such claims were complicating efforts to secure their release.
Alamu and dozens of pupils and teachers were kidnapped when gunmen attacked schools in the Ahoro-Esinle community on May 15.
Speaking from captivity, the principal said the abductors had only one demanded for the release of some of their members currently in custody.
“Today makes it the 24th day that we have been in this place and it seems that some people are making our problems complicated already,” she said.
“We were shown some print media where it was stated that these people requested the release of some people, N1 billion and for Sharia to be entrenched in the country. These are not true.”
Alamu said neither she nor the other victims had been pressured to adopt Islamic practices during their captivity.
“We have been here since and we have not been forced to worship in an Islamic way,” she said.
“They have not troubled us concerning that. They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money.”
TERRORISTS ONLY WANT THEIR MEMBERS RELEASED
According to her, the sole demand communicated by the abductors is the release of some of their detained associates.
“The single thing they are asking for is the release of some of their people,” she said.
“I don’t know why they are peddling this rumour to make it complicated for us.”
The principal appealed to the government and the public not to politicise the ordeal of the victims.
“Please, don’t play politics with our lives,” she said.
“Nigerians, please help us to circulate this. Let it go viral. Our lives are in your hands.”
