Professor Wole Alamu, husband of the recently rescued Oyo State school principal, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, has opened up about the harrowing 50 days his wife spent in captivity, revealing why he took the drastic step of blocking the kidnappers` phone numbers during negotiations .

Speaking during a thanksgiving testimony following her release, Professor Alamu disclosed that constant threats from the abductors caused his blood pressure to skyrocket, posing an immediate danger to his life .

Mrs. Alamu, the principal of Ahoro Esinle School in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, was abducted alongside some pupils and teachers by gunmen on May 15, 2026. For three weeks, her husband handled direct communications with the criminals, an ordeal he described as emotionally draining and physically destabilising.

"There was a day I went for a medical check-up. They sent me a text message and I became destabilised," Professor Alamu recounted []. "By the time I got to the clinic, my blood pressure had increased so much that I could not even do the check-up."

Realising the conversations were killing him, the academic made a bold resolution []. "That day I decided I would block these people. You cannot kill me here and kill her there. Choose one. If you want to take her, she is going to be with Christ. You cannot kill the two of us at the same time." 

The decision to cut off contact triggered a swift, psychological backlash from the kidnappers against the principal

"They went to her and said, ‘Madam, your husband has blocked us. We are going to kill you,’" the professor revealed. "She replied, ‘You will not kill me in Jesus’ name.’" 

According to the testimony, the abductors left a cutlass beside Mrs. Alamu, apparently trying to pressure her into taking her own life. However, she remained resilient, boldly telling them she would not harm herself.

Despite the trauma, Professor Alamu praised the swift mobilization of security forces immediately after the abduction. He noted that within 45 minutes of his arrival at Osiele, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 2nd Mechanised Division and the State Commissioner of Police were already on the ground, with two helicopters already combing the forest .

The incident drew widespread solidarity across religious boundaries and international borders. The professor noted that the first two groups to visit and support him were the Muslim communities of Oyo State and the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). He also received tactical support proposals and calls from non-governmental organizations and individuals as far as California and Los Angeles in the United States.

Reflecting on the crisis, which he described as the greatest challenge his family has faced since he became a Christian in 1990, Professor Alamu urged believers to take their faith seriously before adversity strikes.

"We are a very quiet family. If you searched my name on Google before now, what you would mostly see was academics," he said []. "But difficult situations expose your spiritual foundation. If you want to be a Christian, please be a Christian, so that when challenges come, people won`t be praying in vain."

Mrs. Alamu and the other victims finally regained their freedom after a coordinated rescue operation announced by the Federal Government, bringing a joyful end to a 50-day nightmare .