The husband of a kidnapped school principal in Oyo State, Professor Wole Alamu, has appealed to Nigerians not to give up hope but to continue praying for the safe return of his wife and other victims abducted during a school attack in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
Alamu, who is the Dean of a faculty at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Iseyin Campus, made the appeal during an exclusive telephone interview with Eagle 102.5 FM, saying sustained prayers and support remained critical to ongoing efforts aimed at securing the release of the captives.
“Nigerians should not relent in praying for a peaceful resolution of the matter,” he said.
His wife, Mrs Rachael Alamu, Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, was among teachers, pupils and school administrators abducted when gunmen attacked schools in the Oriire axis on May 15, 2026.
The don, who had earlier expressed confidence in security agencies and rescue efforts, reiterated his call for national support, stressing that the ordeal had become a painful waiting period for affected families.
According to official police figures, 18 primary school pupils, seven secondary school students and seven teachers remain unaccounted for following the attack. However, community leaders have claimed that as many as 46 persons may still be in captivity.
The attack reportedly claimed the lives of two teachers, including a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, who was said to have died while in captivity.
For Alamu, the crisis remains deeply personal. On May 30, the university lecturer publicly appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to intensify rescue efforts, breaking down in tears while speaking about the plight of the victims.
He had described seeing videos of his wife in captivity as “disheartening and depressing.”
In one of the latest videos released by the abductors on Monday, Mrs Alamu dismissed reports that the kidnappers were making religious demands.
She said, “The reports being circulated are false. Nigerians should not politicise this matter. The abductors are only demanding the release of certain individuals in custody.”
The abducted principal also appealed for greater public attention to the plight of the victims, insisting that they had not been harmed or subjected to religious coercion.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force said it had intensified aerial surveillance operations across affected communities, including Yawota and Ahoro-Esiele, as part of ongoing search and rescue efforts.
Other security agencies, including the police, Amotekun Corps and forest guards, are also carrying out coordinated operations to locate and rescue the victims.
Authorities said the abductees have now spent about three weeks in captivity, with families continuing to hold on to hope for their safe return.
“We believe the efforts being made will yield positive results, but we need Nigerians to continue praying for these innocent people,” Alamu added.
