Video: Oyo kidnapped teachers beg for help after weeks in bush
Abdullateef Fowewe
Fresh video messages released by the group holding teachers and pupils kidnapped from schools in Oriire Local Government Area show the victims pleading with Governor Seyi Makinde and President Bola Tinubu to call off military or forceful rescue attempts and instead negotiate for their release.
In the clip, Mrs Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esinele, wept as she described the group’s deteriorating conditions after nearly two weeks in captivity.
“Please, we are begging. This is our 13th day in the den with both the children and us, under the rain and scorching sun,” she said, appealing directly to Governor Makinde, “Please do not fight these terrorists, Gov Seyi Makinde, negotiate with them and give them whatever they demand.”
Mrs. Alamu warned that pressure from security operations had inflamed the abductors and that the captors had already selected one person to be killed as a warning to the government.
She urged the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and state authorities to open a dialogue with the kidnappers.
Another teacher, Aiyedaunsi Temitope Mary — seen carrying her young son — made a similar plea to both the governor and the president. “Please help us, whatever they want please give them, today again is Children’s Day, about 14 days we are here in the bush,” she said, calling on traditional rulers to intervene so the captors will release the hostages.
