The husband of Oyo State school principal Rachael Alamu, who recently regained her freedom after more than 50 days in captivity, has revealed that he eventually blocked the kidnappers’ phone numbers during negotiations because their repeated threats were affecting his health.
Professor Wole Alamu made the disclosure during a thanksgiving service held after his wife’s release, describing how weeks of communication with the abductors left him emotionally exhausted and caused his blood pressure to rise.
Mrs Alamu, the principal of Ahoro Esinle School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, was abducted alongside pupils and teachers by gunmen on 15 May 2026. The victims spent more than 50 days in captivity before regaining their freedom following a rescue operation announced by the Federal Government.
Professor Alamu said he spoke directly with the kidnappers for about three weeks before deciding to end all communication.
He explained that every threat unsettled him and, on one occasion, a text message from the abductors caused such a spike in his blood pressure that he could not complete a scheduled medical check-up.
Convinced the conversations were putting his own life at risk, he decided to block the kidnappers’ numbers, saying, “You cannot kill me here and kill her there. Choose one.”
According to him, the kidnappers later confronted his wife after discovering they had been blocked, threatening to kill her. She replied, “You will not kill me in Jesus’ name.”
Professor Alamu also alleged that the abductors left a cutlass beside his wife, apparently expecting her to take her own life. Instead, she told them, “I will not kill myself and you too will not kill me,” a response he described as an act of remarkable courage.
Describing the kidnapping as the greatest challenge his family had ever faced, the professor said they had previously lived a quiet life centred on academic work, Christian service and family. He admitted his wife’s abduction was personally embarrassing, noting that before the incident he was primarily known for his academic career.
Despite the trauma, he praised the swift response of security agencies, saying senior military and police officers were at the scene shortly after the abduction, while helicopters began searching the surrounding forest within hours. He attributed the response and his wife’s eventual release to God’s intervention and the prayers of supporters.
Professor Alamu said the experience humbled him and shattered his belief that he could withstand such emotional pressure. Although he initially resolved to remain strong, he described the night of the abduction as the longest of his life.
Reflecting on the ordeal, he urged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith, arguing that times of crisis expose the strength of a person’s spiritual foundation. He said the experience reinforced the importance of living a righteous life before adversity strikes.
The professor also disclosed that the kidnapping attracted support from across Nigeria and abroad. He received calls from people in California and Los Angeles, while several non-governmental organisations offered assistance, including proposals to help with negotiations before deciding they would have to work directly with the government.
He further recalled that the first visitors to his family after the abduction were members of the Muslim community in Oyo State, followed by Muslims from LAUTECH, highlighting the solidarity shown across religious lines during the crisis.
Quoting Psalm 126, Professor Alamu said the family’s sorrow had been turned into joy. While describing the kidnapping as the greatest trial he had faced since becoming a Christian in 1990, he said the experience had strengthened his faith, declaring, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”