IBADAN, Nigeria — Mrs. Alamu Folawe, the abducted Vice-Principal of Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele, in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, has surfaced in a disturbing new video debunking widespread reports regarding her captors’ demands [instagram.com].
Speaking on her 24th day in captivity, a visibly distressed Folawe accused authorities and sections of the media of complicating their situation by peddling false narratives. She clarified that the armed group holding her alongside several pupils and staff members is not demanding a ₦1 billion ransom, weapons, or the nationwide enforcement of Sharia law. Instead, they are strictly seeking a prisoner-exchange swap for their detained members.
The Real Demands from Captivity
In the video broadcast, Mrs. Folawe pleaded directly with Nigerians to make her statement go viral so the truth cannot be hidden by official circles.
“They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money,” Folawe stated. “The single thing they are asking for is the release of some of their people. I don’t know why they are peddling this rumor to make it complicated for us. Please, we are just begging you, don’t play politics with our lives.”
She further revealed that the captives have not been mistreated regarding religion, stating they have been left alone and have not been forced to worship in any Islamic way.
A Growing Crisis in Oriire
The victims were forcibly taken when heavily armed gunmen invaded their school community, killing an assistant headmaster and a commercial motorcyclist during the coordinated raid [gazettengr.com].
While the Nigerian Senate and regional security forces have condemned the attack and ordered tactical rescue deployments [youtube.com], the hostages remain trapped in local forest reserves under harsh weather conditions. Folawe warned that the state and federal governments must actively negotiate the swap directly to prevent the loss of innocent lives.
