School abduction: Emotional principal begs Tinubu, Makinde to negotiate with bandits

Mrs. Alamu, the principal of Community High School in Esele, Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State, has appeared in an emotional video with plea to the authorities for their released from bandits who kidnapped staff and pupils.

In a tearful video now circulating online, the visibly distressed school head appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to step in urgently and prioritise dialogue to secure the captives’ release.

She voiced alarm that a recent security operation linked to the incident may have backfired, making the situation worse and putting the victims in even greater danger.

According to her, the attempted rescue effort has apparently led to heightened threats against the abducted group, with one individual reportedly marked for possible execution.

Speaking through sobs, Mrs. Alamu begged the government to abandon the use of force and instead open communication channels with the kidnappers.

“I’m begging the government, President Tinubu and the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, to please help us and dialogue with these people,” she said. “They should not use force. The force they used yesterday has caused us so much. It has added to our problems. In fact, one of us has been picked that they’re going to kill him because government tried to help us by force.”

She renewed her plea for immediate negotiations, insisting that only dialogue can ensure the safe return of the abducted teachers and students.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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