The husband of Rachael Alamu, the Oyo State school principal who recently regained her freedom after spending more than 50 days in captivity, has revealed that he eventually blocked the kidnappers’ phone numbers during negotiations because their repeated threats were taking a serious toll on his health.
Professor Wole Alamu made the disclosure while giving a testimony during a thanksgiving service following his wife’s release, recounting how constant communication with the abductors left him emotionally drained, physically destabilised and battling high blood pressure.
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Mrs Alamu, the principal of Ahoro Esinle School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, was among pupils and teachers abducted by gunmen on May 15, 2026.
The victims spent more than 50 days in captivity before regaining their freedom after a rescue operation announced by the Federal Government.
During the emotional testimony, Professor Alamu described the experience as the greatest challenge his family had ever faced, saying the kidnapping disrupted what had been a quiet family life centred on academics, work and Christian service.
“I want to say to my family, we are a very quiet family. We just come to work for God and we go home. We do not make noise.
“I am very sure if you search my name on Google, before now, what you would mostly see was academics.”
He admitted that his wife’s abduction came as a personal embarrassment.
“My wife’s abduction was an embarrassment to me,” he said.
Despite the painful experience, the professor expressed gratitude for what he described as the swift response of security agencies immediately after the incident.
“They abducted my wife and other people. I got to Osiele.
“I would like to say that within 45 minutes, the General Officer Commanding of the 2nd Mechanised Division was already there. The Commissioner of Police was already there before me. Two helicopters were already combing the forest one hour before I got there.
“It can only be God, and it is an answered prayer from my pastor and every member of this association.”
He urged Christians to remain steadfast in their faith, saying difficult situations often expose a person’s spiritual foundation.
“We are all needy people. We should always abide in the presence of the Lord.”
Addressing men during the service, Professor Alamu admitted that the experience humbled him despite initially believing he could withstand the emotional pressure.
“We the men, I know we are strong-hearted and stubborn. Big boys don’t cry. Big boys can become small boys.
“The night they abducted them, I went to meet Reverend and told him, ‘I will be strong.’
“I thought I was strong because that night was the longest night I ever lived.”
According to him, the ordeal taught him the importance of living a righteous Christian life before adversity strikes.
“If you don’t live right and this challenge faces you, the devil will come and tell you, ‘See yourself now.’
“The Bible says the devil is the accuser of the brethren. I saw it graphically.”
Professor Alamu disclosed that he communicated directly with the kidnappers for about three weeks before deciding to cut off all contact because of the effect the conversations were having on his health.
“When my wife was abducted, I was chatting with the abductors for the first three weeks.
“I was threatened and immediately they threatened me, I was always destabilised.
“There was a day I went for a medical check-up. They sent me a text message and I became destabilised. By the time I got to the clinic, I could not even do the check-up because my blood pressure had already increased.”
He said he eventually concluded that continuing communication with the kidnappers was putting his own life at risk.
“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.”
Professor Alamu said the kidnappers later confronted his wife after discovering they had been blocked.
“They went to her and said, ‘Madam, your husband has blocked us. We are going to kill you.’
“She replied, ‘You will not kill me in Jesus’ name.’”
He further revealed that the kidnappers allegedly left a cutlass beside her, apparently expecting her to take her own life.
“They left one cutlass beside the Madam Principal.
“When they came back, they were blaming one another, saying, ‘You left a cutlass beside the Madam Principal so she could kill herself.’
“My wife replied immediately, ‘I will not kill myself and you too will not kill me.’
“I thank God for that boldness. She spoke positively.”
According to the professor, the incident drew support from individuals and organisations across Nigeria and abroad.
He said he received calls from places including California and Los Angeles in the United States, while some international organisations reached out with offers to assist.
“I got some numbers calling me, especially from California and Los Angeles in the U.S.
“One of them sent me a proposal of about six pages.
“There were NGOs that God used to assist me. Some said they wanted to take over negotiations but later said they would have to deal directly with the government.”
Reflecting on the experience, Professor Alamu urged Christians not to treat their faith casually, saying trials often reveal the true depth of one’s relationship with God.
“If you want to be a Christian, please be a Christian.
“If you don’t want to be, it is better you go out so that when challenges come, you are on your own and people won’t be praying in vain.”
He also recalled how people from different religious backgrounds rallied around him during the crisis.
“The first set of people that visited me were the Muslim community of Oyo State.
“The second set of people that visited me were the Muslim community in LAUTECH,” he said.
Quoting Psalm 126, Professor Alamu said the family’s sorrow had been turned into joy, adding that although the kidnapping remains the greatest trial he has faced since giving his life to Christ in 1990, it has strengthened his faith in God’s power.
“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy,” he said.
