Oyo abduction crisis: ‘Nigerians should not relent in prayers,’ Says husband of captive principal

Michael Olumide

For Professor Wole Alamu, every passing day has become an exercise in faith, endurance, and hope.

His wife, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, remains among dozens of victims abducted during a violent attack on a school community on May 15, 2026.

Nearly three weeks after the incident, the Dean of the Iseyin Campus of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) says his family continues to cling to hope while awaiting the safe return of their loved one.

Speaking during an exclusive telephone interview with Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, on Tuesday, Prof. Alamu appealed to Nigerians across religious, ethnic, and political divides to continue praying for the victims and supporting ongoing rescue efforts.
“Nigerians should not relent in praying for a peaceful resolution of the matter,” he said.

The appeal marks a renewed call from the university lecturer, who had earlier expressed confidence in security agencies and government intervention during a previous interview with the radio station on May 20. As the days in captivity continue to stretch on, he has intensified his appeal, urging the nation not to lose sight of the victims and their families.

Mrs. Alamu was abducted alongside teachers, pupils, and school administrators during the attack on the Ahoro-Esiele school axis. Since then, conflicting figures have emerged regarding the number of persons still being held.

Official police reports indicate that 18 primary school pupils, seven secondary school students, and seven teachers remain unaccounted for. Community leaders, however, estimate that the number of people still in captivity could be as high as 46.

The attack has also claimed lives.
According to reports, two teachers died in connection with the incident. One was reportedly killed during the initial assault, while another, mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun, was said to have died while in captivity, deepening concerns over the welfare and safety of those still being held.

For Prof. Alamu, the tragedy extends beyond statistics and security briefings. It is a deeply personal ordeal marked by uncertainty and emotional strain.

On May 30, during a public appeal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, the academic broke down in tears while calling for intensified rescue efforts. He described the repeated circulation of videos showing his wife in captivity as emotionally devastating, saying the experience had become “disheartening and depressing” for him and other family members.

In one of the latest videos released from captivity on Monday, Mrs. Alamu appeared visibly weakened and pale. In the recording, she dismissed reports suggesting that the abductors were making religious demands, describing such claims as false.

She urged Nigerians not to politicise the crisis and stated that the abductors were primarily demanding the release of certain individuals currently in custody. She also appealed for greater public attention to the plight of the victims, while insisting that those being held had not been harmed or subjected to religious coercion.

Meanwhile, security agencies say efforts to secure the release of the victims have been intensified.

The Nigerian Air Force has expanded aerial surveillance operations across affected communities, including Yawota and Ahoro-Esiele, as part of ongoing search-and-rescue missions. Ground operations are also being conducted by a combination of security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Amotekun Corps, and local forest guards, who are working to locate and rescue the abductees.

Authorities say the victims have now spent approximately three weeks in captivity, raising concerns among families and community members who continue to await positive news.

For the families of those still missing, however, the crisis is measured not in official statements or operational updates, but in the agonising passage of time.

Each day brings fresh uncertainty, renewed prayers, and an enduring hope that their loved ones will return home safely.

At the centre of that hope remains a simple appeal from a husband longing for the return of his wife: that Nigerians should continue to pray and stand with the families until the abductees regain their freedom.