Abducted pupils and teachers from Community High School, Esinele in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have issued another public appeal for urgent intervention, speaking in a recently released video that shows them pleading for their lives after nearly two weeks in captivity.
The video, which surfaced on Friday, captures the school principal, Folawe Alamu, alongside other abducted staff and children. Speaking in a visibly distressed tone, she said the group had endured 13 days in difficult conditions without relief.
According to her, the captives have been exposed to harsh weather conditions, moving between rainfall and intense heat, while uncertainty about their fate continues.
“We beg you, in the name of God, have mercy on us,” she said. “We are under the rain and sun. We are all here, both the old and young. Today makes it the 13th day we have been here. Please let them free us. We do not want you to fight them. Please give them what they want. Have mercy on us.”
Her appeal was directed at Governor Seyi Makinde, whom she urged to open communication channels aimed at securing the release of the victims. Her remarks reflected growing desperation among the captives, who appear in the footage seated closely together, including schoolchildren.
Another teacher, also seen in the video holding a young girl, echoed the same plea. Shivering as she spoke, she called for immediate negotiation with the abductors, insisting that the priority should be the safe return of the captives rather than prolonged confrontation.
“We are pleading with our governor, Seyi Abiodun Makinde, please help us negotiate with these people,” she said. “Whatever they want, please give it to them. Please help us, save our lives. We are all here, both the teachers and the children. We need help.”
The incident traces back to May 15, when armed attackers invaded communities within Oriire Local Government Area. The assault left at least two people dead and resulted in the abduction of several pupils and teachers from the school.
The attack triggered widespread concern across the state, particularly due to the scale of the kidnapping and the presence of schoolchildren among the victims. Security responses were launched in the aftermath, but the captives have remained in detention since the incident.
Tension escalated further two days later, on May 17, when one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was killed by the captors. His death, which circulated in a viral video, intensified pressure on authorities and deepened anxiety among families of the remaining victims.
Religious and civil society groups have also joined calls for intervention. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has previously urged coordinated action between state and federal authorities to secure the release of the abducted individuals without further loss of life.
Earlier statements from the school principal had already drawn attention to the worsening conditions in captivity. In those appeals, she called on government officials, security agencies, and faith-based organisations to intervene swiftly, warning that continued delay could result in additional fatalities.
Friday’s video marks the most recent and direct communication from the captives since the incident, reinforcing the urgency of their situation. Their message, repeated in different voices throughout the recording, centres on survival and immediate negotiation rather than escalation.
As of the time of this report, there has been no public confirmation of the status of ongoing rescue efforts or negotiations. Families of the abducted pupils and teachers continue to await official updates while the video circulates widely across social media platforms, drawing renewed attention to the security situation in rural parts of Oyo State.
