A fresh video released by abductors in the Oyo State school kidnapping crisis shows an abducted school official, Mrs. Alamu F.R., rejecting claims that the kidnappers are demanding Sharia law in the state or a ₦1 billion ransom.

The video, which circulated widely on social media on Monday, shows the school official speaking under duress from an undisclosed forest location, where dozens of schoolchildren and staff were abducted in mid-May.

In the footage, Mrs. Alamu urged the public to disregard earlier statements attributed to government sources regarding the kidnappers’ demands.

“Nigerians, please disregard all that the Oyo State Government is saying that our abductors are requesting Sharia law in Oyo State. It is a lie,” she said. “They never requested that, and they never requested for a ₦1 billion ransom.”

She further alleged that authorities were politicising the situation, adding: “The government just wants to use our lives for politics.”

Mrs. Alamu claimed that the abductors’ actual demand centres on a prisoner exchange rather than financial payment or ideological conditions.

According to her statement in the video, the group is requesting the release of some of their members currently in custody in exchange for the hostages.

“All they are requesting is that the Oyo State Government release some of their people who are in prison, and they promise to allow us to go free,” she said.

She also claimed the captives had not been physically harmed since their abduction.

The mass abduction occurred in May 2026 when armed attackers raided schools in the Ogbomoso axis of Oyo State, including Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Esiele. About 46 pupils, students, and teachers were reportedly taken into nearby forests.

The incident triggered a large-scale security response, with operatives and local vigilante groups deployed to forest corridors linking Oyo and Kwara States in an effort to contain the abductors.

The Oyo State Police Command said it is analysing the video to verify its authenticity, including when and where it was recorded.

Security officials have previously warned that hostage videos are often scripted by criminal groups under coercion, and may be used to influence public perception or pressure authorities during negotiations.

Authorities have yet to formally respond to the specific claims made in the latest footage, including allegations of political interference in the handling of the crisis.

Security operations are ongoing as efforts continue to locate and rescue the abducted victims.