Prof. Wole Alamu, the husband of Mrs. Rachael Alamu, one of the victims of the Oriire school kidnapping in Oyo State, has shared how overwhelming support from members of the Muslim community helped his family cope during one of the most painful periods of their lives. Speaking in an interview featured in a video uploaded by Splash FM 105.5, the university lecturer reflected on the cross-religious solidarity that sustained his family while his wife remained in Captivity.
The kidnapping, which attracted nationwide attention, involved the abduction of pupils and staff from a private school in Oriire, Oyo State. As security agencies and other stakeholders worked to secure the victims’ release, families endured days of uncertainty, anxiety, and emotional distress. For Prof. Alamu, however, the burden was made lighter by the compassion shown by people from different faiths, particularly the Muslim community.
Recalling the events after the abduction, Alamu revealed that the first people to arrive at his home to offer comfort were Muslims. According to him, their visit reflected the enduring relationships he had built before converting to Christianity several decades ago.
Reflecting on the support he received after the kidnapping, he said, “The first to visit me were Muslims.”
Alamu explained that before embracing Christianity, he spent about 35 years practicing Islam and even served as an Imam. During his years as a Muslim, he held leadership positions within Islamic student organizations, including serving among Muslim students at the University of Ibadan.
“I used to be a Muslim and an Imam,” he said, adding that his long history within the Islamic community created lasting friendships that remained intact despite his change of faith.
According to him, the first delegation that visited him after news of the kidnapping broke consisted of local Imams and members of the Muslim community from different parts of Oyo State. Their presence, he said, brought encouragement during a period filled with uncertainty and fear.
He also disclosed that the Muslim community at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) was the second group to visit him. The delegation offered prayers, words of encouragement, and practical support to reassure the family that they were not alone in the difficult moment.
The professor stressed that the kindness extended to his family demonstrated that compassion transcends religious differences. According to him, the visits were not driven by religious identity but by genuine concern for fellow human beings facing hardship.
He noted that while his family struggled with the uncertainty surrounding his wife’s safety and the fate of the other abductees, the solidarity shown by both Muslim and Christian well-wishers strengthened their resolve to remain hopeful.
Prof. Alamu said the experience reinforced his belief that humanity should always come before religious divisions. He expressed gratitude to everyone who stood by his family throughout the ordeal, describing their prayers, visits, and encouragement as invaluable during one of the darkest chapters of their lives.
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