‘Save us before we die,’ abducted Oyo principal pleads in captivity (video)

The abducted principal of Community High School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has appealed for urgent intervention in a video recorded from captivity, days after gunmen attacked schools in the area and abducted pupils, students and staff.

The attack, which occurred on Friday morning, threw the Ahoro-Esiele/Yawota axis into panic after armed men reportedly invaded school premises and whisked away several victims.

Police and local reports confirmed that schoolchildren and staff members were abducted, while security operatives have since launched rescue operations.

In the video, Alamu identified herself as the principal of Community High School, Esiele, and said the victims had remained in captivity since the attack.

“I am Mrs Alamu F.R. I am the principal of Community High School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government of Oyo State,” she said.

“On Friday, around 9:30, we were attacked by a certain group of people and a good number of us were abducted, the staff and the students as well.”

The visibly distressed principal appealed to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, Governor Seyi Makinde, the Christian Association of Nigeria, and other well-meaning Nigerians to intervene before the situation ends in tragedy.

“I am making this video to ask for help from everyone, starting from the Federal Government of Nigeria and Oyo State Government, Engineer Seyi Makinde, the Christian Association of Nigeria and all well-meaning Nigerians, that they should come to our help and settle this thing peacefully so that our lives will not be lost,” she pleaded.

Local reports said seven teachers and 39 pupils were among those taken away during the coordinated attacks on schools in the area, although official figures have varied as authorities continue to verify the exact number of victims. The Associated Press reported that police were still assessing how many schoolchildren may have been abducted following the incident.

The attackers were said to have targeted Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, before fleeing through the forest corridor around the Old Oyo National Park.

During the raid, an assistant headmaster, Joel Adesiyan, was reportedly shot dead, while an okada rider was also killed after allegedly resisting attempts by the attackers to seize his motorcycle. The gunmen were also said to have snatched motorcycles from residents while escaping.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has visited the affected communities and ordered intensified rescue operations, while the Oyo State Government said it was working with security agencies to secure the release of the abducted victims.

Police had earlier confirmed the abduction and said operatives had been deployed to the area, with a manhunt underway for the attackers.

The incident has heightened fears over the spread of school abductions to the South-West, a region where such attacks have been relatively rare compared with northern Nigeria.

AP also reported that three suspects had been detained in connection with the attack, though authorities were still investigating the full circumstances of the incident.

Watch the video below: