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The abducted Oyo school principal, Mrs Rachael Folawe Alamu, has dismissed reports that their captors demanded N1 billion ransom and the imposition of Sharia law as conditions to effect their release.
She spoke from captivity in a new video released on Monday by the armed gunmen that abducted 46 schoolchildren and teachers from three schools in Oriire local government area of Oyo State on May 15.
Alamu, the Principal of Community High School, Esiele, also begged Nigerians and the government to secure their release.
In the viral video, the school principal said she was compelled to speak out after learning what she described as false information about the demands of her abductors was being circulated in sections of the media, 25 days after she was kidnapped.
Alamu said, “Please, I have come to make some clarifications. Today makes it the 25th day that we have been in this place and it seems that some people are making our problems complicated already.
“We were shown some print media where it was stated that the people who abducted us requested the release of some people.
“That they requested N1 billion, that they requested that Sharia be entrenched in the country. These are not true. They are just trying to create problems for us.
“We have been here, and we have not been forced to worship in an Islamic way. We have been left alone. They have not troubled us concerning that. They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money.
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“The single thing they are asking for is the release of some of their people. I don’t know why they are peddling this rumour to make it complicated for us.”
The school principal urged the authorities and other Nigerians not to play politics with the lives of the abductees.
“Please, we are just begging you. Don’t play politics with our lives. Nigerians, please help us to circulate this. Let it go viral.
“They are not asking for Sharia law. It is not true. They are not asking for weapons. They are not asking for money.
“All they want is the release of some people, and the government will negotiate with them and know those that they will release for them. I don’t know why they are playing politics with our lives,” she said.
Alamu reiterated her appeal to Nigerians to pressurise the government to secure their quick release.
She said, “Please, Nigerians, our lives are in your hands. Help us make this go viral. Don’t let the government deceive the whole world.
“They are not asking for Sharia. They are not asking for money. They are not asking for weapons. All they want is the release of some of their people.”
