The principal of Community High School, Esiele, Mrs Rachael Folawe Alamu, has denied reports that her captors are demanding N1 billion and the imposition of Sharia law for the release of 46 schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State.
Alamu spoke from captivity in a video released on Monday by the gunmen who seized the victims from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area (LGA) on 15 May.
She said she was compelled to speak out 25 days after the abduction after seeing what she described as false information circulated in sections of the media.
"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," she said.
Alamu said the abductors had not forced the captives to worship in an Islamic way and were not asking for money or weapons.
"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," she said.
The principal urged the government and Nigerians not to "play politics" with the lives of the abductees and to pressurise authorities to secure their quick release.
"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. They are not asking for money. They are not asking for weapons. All they want is the release of some of their people, and the government will negotiate with them and know those that they will release for them," she said.
Alamu concluded: "Please, Nigerians, our lives are in your hands. Help us make this go viral. Don’t let the government deceive the whole world."
A total of 46 pupils and teachers were abducted on 15 May from three schools in Oriire LGA.
Security agencies have not issued a fresh statement on the incident as of press time.
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