Oriire abduction: Why I blocked contact with kidnappers — Oyo principal’s husband

The husband of the principal of Ahoro Community Grammar School, Oriire, Oyo State, Mrs Rachael Alamu, has explained why he eventually cut off communication with the kidnappers who held his wife captive, saying their repeated threats took a severe toll on his health.

Professor Wole Alamu made the disclosure during a thanksgiving service following his wife’s release, recounting how weeks of negotiations with the abductors left him emotionally drained and battling high blood pressure.

Recall that Mrs Alamu was among teachers and pupils abducted by gunmen from the school in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026.

She and the other victims regained their freedom after spending more than 50 days in captivity following a rescue operation.

ALSO READ: Seventh week of incarceration hardest for us, rescued Oriire school principal narrates ordeal during thanksgiving

Speaking during the service, Professor Alamu described the kidnapping as the greatest challenge his family had ever faced.

According to him, he communicated directly with the kidnappers for about three weeks before deciding to block their phone numbers after realising the conversations were putting his own life at risk.

“When my wife was abducted, I was chatting with the abductors for the first three weeks,” he said.

“I was threatened and immediately they threatened me, I was always destabilised.”

He recalled that on one occasion, he had gone for a medical check-up when the kidnappers sent him another threatening message.

“There was a day I went for a medical check-up. They sent me a text message and I became destabilised. By the time I got to the clinic, I could not even do the check-up because my blood pressure had already increased.”

The professor said the incident convinced him that continuing negotiations with the abductors was endangering his health.

“That day I decided I would block these people,” he said.

“You cannot kill me here and kill her there. Choose one. If you want to take her, she is going to be with Christ. You cannot kill the two of us at the same time.”

According to him, the kidnappers later confronted his wife after discovering they could no longer reach him.

“They went to her and said, ‘Madam, your husband has blocked us. We are going to kill you.'”

He said Mrs Alamu remained resolute despite the threat.

“She replied, ‘You will not kill me in Jesus’ name.'”

Professor Alamu further alleged that the kidnappers left a cutlass beside his wife, apparently expecting her to take her own life.

“They left one cutlass beside the Madam Principal.”

“When they came back, they were blaming one another, saying, ‘You left a cutlass beside the Madam Principal so she could kill herself.'”

He said his wife rejected the idea and declared her faith.

“My wife replied immediately, ‘I will not kill myself and you too will not kill me.’ I thank God for that boldness. She spoke positively.”

Reflecting on the ordeal, Professor Alamu expressed gratitude to security agencies for what he described as their swift response after the abduction.

“Within 45 minutes, the General Officer Commanding of the 2 Mechanised Division was already there. The Commissioner of Police was already there before me. Two helicopters were already combing the forest one hour before I got there. It can only be God.”

He also said the incident attracted support from individuals and organisations across Nigeria and abroad, including offers of assistance from the United States.

Professor Alamu urged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith, saying difficult moments often reveal the true depth of a person’s relationship with God.

Quoting Psalm 126, he said the family’s sorrow had been turned into joy, describing the kidnapping as the greatest trial he had faced since giving his life to Christ in 1990.

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy,” he said.