Mrs Rachael Folawe Alamu, Principal of Community High School, Esiele in Oriire LGA, has surfaced in a viral video from captivity to deny claims her abductors are demanding N1bn ransom or Sharia law.
Speaking 24 days after she was kidnapped, the principal said she had to address the public after false reports about the kidnappers’ demands went viral.
The captives, she said, were shown newspaper reports alleging that the abductors had demanded a huge ransom payment, weapons, and the establishment of Sharia law in the country.
“Everyone, please I have come to make some clarifications. Today makes it the 24th day that we have been in this place and it seems that some people are making our problems complicated already,” she added
She maintained that the kidnappers had neither requested money nor sought religious concessions from the government.
“We have been here and we have not been forced to worship in an Islamic way. They have not troubled us concerning that. They are not asking for Sharia law. They are not asking for money,” she stated.
She also said the only demand communicated by the abductors was the release of some individuals currently in government custody.
“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,” she stated.
She begged Nigerians and relevant authorities not to politicise efforts aimed at securing the release of those being held captive.
“Please, we are begging you. Don’t play politics with our lives. Nigerians, please help us 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,” she said.
She further urged the government to engage directly with the abductors to determine the identities of the individuals whose release they are demanding.
“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 added.
She called on Nigerians to amplify her message and prevent what she described as attempts to misrepresent the kidnappers’ demands.
“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,” she said.
