The husband of an abducted teacher in Oyo State has emotionally appealed to kidnappers to release his wife and their 18-month-old baby, offering himself in exchange for their freedom.

The man made the appeal after gunmen attacked schools in Ahoro-Esiele Community, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State last Friday, abducting pupils, teachers and residents.

Speaking during an interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, the distraught husband identified his wife as Mary Akanbi, one of the teachers kidnapped during the attack.

“Take me instead”

According to him, his wife was carrying their one-and-a-half-year-old baby on her back when the attackers abducted them.

“My wife was kidnapped, her name is Akanbi Mary, she backed one-and-half-year-old baby,” he said.

The grieving husband said the community had been left vulnerable following the attack, alleging that there was no adequate security presence to protect residents.

“We the victims are the only people remaining in the community, with no security personnel, no protection whatsoever,” he lamented.

Community still living in fear

The man further claimed that some security operatives involved in rescue attempts were killed during operations in the area.

“Most of the security personnel who tried rescue mission were all wasted,” he said.

In an emotional plea directed at the abductors, he begged them to free his wife and child while taking him instead.

“I will gladly give myself to them for the sake of my wife and my child. Let them free my wife and my child and just take me instead,” he said.

“I am in the exact community where my family was taken. Let them come for me instead. They have taken everything; they have ruined my life.”

Attack sparks outrage

The attack on the schools in Oriire LGA has continued to generate outrage across the country.

Gunmen had invaded LA Primary School and Community Grammar School in Ahoro-Esiele Community, killing two people and abducting dozens of pupils and staff members.

One of the abducted teachers was later reportedly killed in captivity, further deepening fears over the worsening insecurity in the area.