By Moyinoluwa Ojegbade
A school principal reportedly being held captive alongside other teachers and pupils abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has appealed to the government to intensify efforts toward securing their release, dismissing claims that their captors were demanding the imposition of Sharia law.
In a video message circulated online, the woman, who identified herself as a principal in the Oriire area of Ogbomoso, said she and other abductees had spent 24 days in captivity.
She expressed concern over what she described as misinformation surrounding the conditions of their abduction, warning that some narratives being circulated could further complicate efforts to secure their freedom.
According to her, reports claiming that the abductors were demanding the implementation of Sharia law in Nigeria were false.
She stated that, contrary to such allegations, neither she nor the other captives had been compelled to practice Islam or participate in any religious activities against their will.
The principal said the captors had not forced them to adopt any religious beliefs and urged the public to disregard rumours suggesting otherwise.
She maintained that the focus should remain on securing the release of those being held and not on unverified claims that could hinder negotiations.
The woman appealed to Nigerians to share her message widely, insisting that the abductors were not demanding weapons, money or the establishment of Sharia law.
Instead, she claimed that their primary demand was the release of certain individuals currently in government custody and urged authorities to engage in dialogue to determine possible pathways toward resolving the situation.
The appeal comes amid ongoing efforts by security agencies to rescue the abducted teachers and pupils from communities in Oriire Local Government Area. Authorities have yet to officially respond to the claims made in the video.
