A new video released nearly two weeks after the May 15 abduction shows Principal Mrs. Alamu urging President Bola Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde to negotiate with her captors.

The kidnappers are allegedly holding teachers and children in difficult conditions while rescue efforts continue in the Oriire Local Government area.

Governor Seyi Makinde has confirmed that security operatives encountered improvised explosive devices during rescue operations near Old Oyo National Park.

The case highlights the growing operational complexity facing security agencies responding to mass abductions in Oyo State.

Nearly two weeks after gunmen attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area, a new video has surfaced showing abducted school principal Mrs. Alamu making a direct appeal to federal and state authorities for intervention.

In the recording, Alamu called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) to engage with the kidnappers holding her and other victims. Her message arrives amid continuing uncertainty over the fate of teachers and children seized during the May 15 attacks on two schools in Oyo State.

The footage provides one of the few direct accounts from those still in captivity.

According to Alamu's statement in the video, the captors have become increasingly impatient as negotiations remain unresolved. She alleged that children and teachers are being exposed to harsh weather conditions while in captivity.

"The teachers and the children are still under the sun and the rain," she said in the recording. She also appealed to authorities not to pursue a force-based response, urging instead that communication channels remain open with the abductors.

Her comments cannot be independently verified from the video alone. Yet they offer a rare glimpse into conditions described by a hostage still being held.

The abduction traces back to coordinated attacks carried out on May 15 at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinle, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area.

According to reports from the incident, gunmen abducted multiple pupils, students, and members of staff during the attacks. The operation affected two educational institutions in the same local government area, raising questions about the level of planning involved.

A teacher and an okada rider were also reportedly killed during the violence.

The attacks triggered immediate concern among residents, parents, and education stakeholders across Oyo State. Families of the victims have spent more than a week awaiting developments while security agencies pursue rescue operations.

The exact number of individuals still being held was not specified in the latest video. Authorities have likewise not publicly disclosed detailed operational information regarding the rescue effort.

Rescue Operations Face Security Challenges

Governor Seyi Makinde has previously stated that security agencies are conducting both kinetic and non-kinetic operations aimed at securing the release of the abductees.

That distinction matters because it suggests authorities are simultaneously pursuing enforcement measures and negotiation-related approaches. The governor has not publicly detailed the precise balance between those strategies.

What has been confirmed is that the rescue mission has encountered significant obstacles.

Makinde disclosed that security personnel involved in the operation sustained injuries after encountering improvised explosive devices (IEDs) allegedly planted by the kidnappers around the Old Oyo National Park area.

The statement is significant because it indicates the operation extends beyond a conventional search-and-rescue effort. The reported presence of explosive devices suggests a more sophisticated security threat than kidnappings involving simple movement of hostages from one location to another.

Publicly available information has not established the number of operatives injured or the severity of those injuries. Authorities have also not disclosed whether any suspects have been apprehended in connection with the explosives.

Pressure Builds on Government and Security Agencies

The release of the new video is likely to intensify scrutiny of ongoing rescue efforts.

For families of the abducted children and teachers, the footage serves as evidence that some victims remain alive nearly two weeks after the incident. For security agencies, it introduces fresh urgency into an already sensitive operation.

The principal's appeal was directed not only at government officials but also at professional associations representing teachers and school administrators. That broader call suggests an attempt to mobilize every institution capable of influencing the outcome of negotiations.

Alamu urged authorities to respond quickly to the demands of the abductors and warned against delays that could further endanger those being held.

Officials have not publicly confirmed whether direct negotiations are underway. Nor have authorities disclosed whether any ransom demands or conditions have been communicated by the kidnappers.

A Test for School Security in Oyo State

The Oriire abductions have renewed concerns about the vulnerability of educational institutions located in rural and semi-rural communities.

The attacks targeted both a secondary school and a primary school. That fact alone broadens the implications beyond a single institution or age group. Security experts have long argued that schools can become attractive targets when surrounding communities have limited security infrastructure and delayed emergency response capabilities.

In this case, authorities have emphasized ongoing efforts to recover the victims safely. Yet the emergence of repeated hostage videos suggests the crisis remains active rather than resolved.

The timeline is becoming longer.

As of the release of the latest video, nearly two weeks had passed since the May 15 attacks. During that period, officials have reported continued operations, while families have continued to await confirmation of a breakthrough.

What is the latest development in the case?

A new video shows abducted principal Mrs. Alamu appealing to President Tinubu, Governor Makinde, NUT, and ANCOPSS to help secure the release of teachers and children still being held.

Have security agencies located the abductees?

Authorities have not publicly confirmed that the hostages have been located. Governor Makinde has said rescue operations are ongoing and have encountered IED-related security threats.

Did the governor confirm casualties among rescue personnel?

He confirmed that some operatives sustained injuries after encountering alleged improvised explosive devices near the Old Oyo National Park area. The number and extent of injuries have not been publicly detailed.

The next unresolved question is whether negotiations, if any are occurring, will produce the release of the remaining captives before security operations escalate further. No court proceedings have yet been announced, no deadline for resolution has been disclosed by authorities, and the specific demands being made by the kidnappers remain undisclosed. Until those facts emerge, the central issue remains unchanged: how and when the abducted teachers and children will return home safely.