Tension continues to mount in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State following the abduction of teachers and school children, a crisis that has seen a disturbing new development. A video surfaced on Friday, nearly two weeks after the initial incident, showing the abducted Principal, Mrs. Alamu, making an emotional plea for urgent intervention from both the federal government and various stakeholders. Her distress was palpable as she appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), urging them to negotiate swiftly with the abductors to avert further tragedy.

In her desperate appeal, Principal Alamu highlighted the severe conditions endured by the abducted teachers and children in captivity. She explicitly stated that the kidnappers were growing increasingly impatient. “The terrorists are already getting impatient. The teachers and the children are still under the sun and the rain, while we are in the cold,” she said in the video. She further cautioned against any attempts to use force, emphasizing that negotiation was the key. “The government should not use force. All they need to do is call and negotiate with them. We are begging you, don’t let them waste our lives. Please help us, don’t forget us here, answer them on time.” This latest video has significantly heightened fears among the residents and families of those abducted, even as security agencies in the Ogbomoso axis of the state continue their rescue efforts.

The mass abduction occurred on May 15 during coordinated attacks on two educational institutions: Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, both located within the Oriire Local Government Area. The incident resulted in the abduction of dozens of pupils and students, along with several teachers, including Mrs. Alamu. Tragically, a teacher and an okada rider were reportedly killed during these violent attacks. This event has been linked to broader concerns about insecurity and school abductions, with related news also mentioning similar incidents in Borno and President Tinubu’s condemnations and promises regarding the safe return of abducted schoolchildren.

In response to the crisis, the Oyo State government has assured residents that security agencies are intensifying both kinetic (military action) and non-kinetic (negotiation and intelligence-gathering) operations to secure the safe release of the abductees. Governor Seyi Makinde himself confirmed that some operatives involved in the rescue mission sustained injuries. These injuries occurred after the operatives encountered Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that were allegedly planted by the kidnappers around the Old Oyo National Park area, where the victims are believed to be held. The use of IEDs underscores the dangerous and complex nature of the rescue operations.