Husband of abducted Oyo principal calls for prayers, safe return

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

Prof. Wole Alamu, husband of Mrs Rachael Alamu, the abducted principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has appealed to Nigerians not to relent in prayers as efforts to secure the release of victims of the May 15 school abduction continue.

Prof. Alamu, Dean of the Iseyin Campus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), made the appeal during a telephone interview with Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State.

The university don, whose wife remains among those held captive following the attack on the school, said faith and collective support remain crucial, as families await positive news from ongoing rescue operations.

“Nigerians should not relent in praying for a peaceful resolution of the matter,” Prof. Alamu said.

The appeal comes weeks after the lecturer first expressed confidence in efforts by security agencies to rescue the victims. However, with the abductees still in captivity, he has intensified calls for national prayers, unity and sustained intervention.

Mrs Alamu was abducted alongside teachers, pupils and school administrators during the violent attack on the school community.

According to official police figures, 18 primary school pupils, seven secondary school students and seven teachers remain unaccounted for. Community leaders, however, estimate that as many as 46 persons may still be in captivity.

The incident also claimed lives. Reports indicate that two teachers were killed during the crisis: one during the initial attack and another, identified as mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun, while in captivity.

For Prof. Alamu, the tragedy extends beyond statistics. The emotional burden of his wife’s continued captivity has been evident in recent weeks. On May 30, he made a passionate appeal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, breaking down in tears as he called for intensified rescue efforts.

He described repeated appearances of his wife in videos released by the abductors as “disheartening and depressing”, underscoring the anguish being experienced by affected families.

In one of the latest videos circulated from captivity on Monday, Mrs Alamu, appearing visibly weakened, dismissed claims that the abductors were making religious demands. She described such reports as false and urged Nigerians not to politicise the situation.

According to her, the abductors were demanding the release of certain individuals currently in custody and not seeking any religious concessions.

“We have not been harmed, and there has been no form of religious coercion,” she reportedly stated in the video, while appealing for increased public attention to the plight of the victims.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has intensified aerial surveillance operations across affected communities in Oyo State, including Yawota and Ahoro-Esiele, as part of ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.

Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun Corps) and forest guards, are also conducting coordinated ground operations aimed at locating and rescuing the abductees.

The victims have now spent about three weeks in captivity, heightening concerns among relatives and residents.

For Prof. Alamu and other affected families, each passing day represents a painful test of endurance sustained by faith, hope and the expectation that their loved ones will return home safely.

Their message, he said, remains simple but urgent: “Nigerians should not stop praying.”

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