The demonstrators, numbering in the hundreds, caused severe traffic disruption as they demanded urgent government intervention and the safe return of the victims who were kidnapped on Friday, May 15, 2026, at about 9:30 a.m. The abductees have remained in captivity since the incident.
The crisis has already triggered wider unrest, with the Nigerian Union of Teachers directing its members across the state to embark on strike action until the victims are rescued. Solidarity protests had also spread across parts of the country in the previous week.
Amid the growing tension, the abducted Principal of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, Mrs Rachael Alamu, appeared in a distressing viral video on Monday, urging Nigerians to reject what she described as misinformation being circulated about the abductors’ demands.
One of the protesters, Kehinde Dahunsi, expressed frustration over the delay in rescuing the victims, questioning the government’s response compared to other recent rescue operations.
He said, “What will it take for both the government at the centre and the state government to rescue our beloved ones since May 15. This is so pathetic.
“The former Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu’s biological sister and her twin children (Peter and Paul), as heard on radio, television stations, and read in the pages of newspapers, were kidnapped early hours on Wednesday, June 3, and were rescued on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Just three days interval.
“But our people have been in captivity for 25 days now. Why shouldn’t governments also apply the same mechanism used to rescue the ex-minister’s sister and her two sons to rescue our family members?” he lamented.
In the viral recording, Mrs Alamu spoke directly from the kidnappers’ hideout, appealing for public attention and urging Nigerians not to politicise their ordeal.
She said in the video, “Good day, 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.
“We were shown some print media where it was stated that these people that abducted us requested the release of some people. They requested a billion naira; they requested that Sharia be enshrined in the country. These are not true. They are just trying to create a problem for us.
“We have been here since, 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.
“The single thing they are looking 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.
“Please, we are begging you, please, 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’s 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 should negotiate with them and know those whom they will release for them.
“I don’t know why they are playing politics with our lives. Please, Nigerians, our lives are in your hands. Please, help us make it go viral. Don’t let the government deceive the whole world.”