The following are the views expressed by Olufemi Oguntokun in the July 13, 2026 episode of the On the Lord’s Side Podcast — Christian perspectives on news and current events.
ON THE OYO ABDUCTEES’ RELEASE — JOY AND HARD QUESTIONS
Good morning to you once again. It is Monday, the 13th of July 2026.
Over the weekend, many of us had the good news, and heaved sighs of relief, that the teachers and students abducted from their schools on May 15, 2026, have now been released. We celebrate that. Many Christians shouted hallelujah; I thanked God on my knees in my private prayers, and I am sure you did too, and that many churches celebrated. In particular, the church of the husband of the woman who has become the most famous of all the abductees — the principal of one of the schools, who became the poster face for those abducted on May 15, because every time the abductors wanted to communicate with the public, it was she they used.
I saw the posts yesterday on Linda Ikeji’s blog: “Husband of abducted Oyo school principal holds Thanksgiving in church following rescue.” The husband of Mrs. Rachel Alamu, the principal of a community high school in Oyo State, who was abducted alongside dozens of students and teachers in Orire Local Government Area on May 15, went before God in thanksgiving on July 12, following their release on Friday, July 10 (that appears to be the official date given by the government). Videos showed Professor Alamu and members of First Baptist Church singing praises to God for the safe release of Mrs. Alamu and the others. If you saw that video, you have no questions about the excitement palpable in the air — the man danced to the front of the altar, accompanied by many others, hands up, singing hallelujah.
One can only imagine the trauma that church must have passed through. We were all traumatised — and rightly so. Even though it was not your wife, your husband, your children or anyone immediately related to you who was abducted, as members of the human community, as brothers and sisters, as members of the Christian community, as citizens of this country, all of us were traumatised. Anyone who was not is a person with a hard heart. And it could not have been just me: when I speak with people, they say they prayed for these captives in their private prayers. Many say what I experienced — that every time we sat to eat and said grace, we prayed for them, because it just crossed the mind that people remained in captivity. Every time I wanted to sleep, I would say on my knees, “Lord, I have a roof over my head, a comfortable bed, a secure house — but there are people out there in the elements, or under lock and key, held against their will by wicked and evil people.” So we join Professor Alamu in celebrating the release of his wife and many others. Curiously, the woman herself was not present in church — we do not yet know whether the released abductees have been returned to society or are still being debriefed by security agencies.
Let us go over this sad episode. On May 15, 2026, Mrs. Alamu, the principal, was abducted along with dozens of pupils and teachers by armed gunmen — around 46 people, roughly 39 students and seven teachers. One teacher was killed in captivity — let us not gloss over that. On the day of the abduction, or the day after, one teacher was beheaded in a most gruesome manner, and that video is said to be out there on the internet. I say “said to be” because I have not seen it and do not want to, but it is documented, and nobody can credibly deny it. A second teacher was shot. As they lingered in captivity, Mrs. Alamu appeared in videos pleading for help. At some point news filtered out that the terrorists were demanding as much as a billion naira in ransom, the imposition of Sharia law in part of Oyo State — or at least a say in the making of its laws — and the release of associates earlier captured by security forces. They were held for approximately 56 to 57 days, because the official news of their release came around July 10 or 11.
And this is the point of the engagement: the official government report on the release or rescue is not clear enough — to be charitable — and it has become the subject of critical analysis by the public. The place to begin is to ask whether what happened was a rescue or a release. Did the terrorists release the abductees, or did the government rescue them? There is a difference. Many suspect a quid pro quo, a ransom paid, because the federal government never appeared so invested while the country waited with bated breath. What did we see from top functionaries? Business as usual. Indeed, the First Lady was criticised many times for engaging in programmes and saying things most incompatible with a nation whose children and teachers were in captivity. So many suspect a quid pro quo — especially as people ask: these terrorists who abducted them, where are they? If it was truly a rescue, was there a gun battle?
Reactions have been largely celebratory, with widespread praise for the security agencies, the President and the governor of Oyo State — and many Nigerians are joyful. But there is skepticism and calls for accountability. Why the incredulity about the official story? First, the pattern of Nigerian kidnappings: ransom payments are common, and though officially denied, those who paid from their own pockets or crowdfunded have confirmed it over and over, so there is public distrust from repeated incidents. Second, the timing and details: the quick recovery of victims in apparently good spirits after 56 days raises questions. People look at the official videos and note that, while the principal has clearly lost weight, the pupils appear to be in good spirits and the uniforms clean in some clips — so there is a lack of full transparency on operational details. And this is something the Nigerian government can learn from sophisticated democracies like the United States and many in Europe: operational details can be released without compromising intelligence sources, strategies or military secrets. Because the less transparent you are, the more readily people will fill in the gaps — nature abhors a vacuum. Basic details are missing: the exact date, whether there was a gun battle, the place, the state where they were found. So many suspect the videos contain staged rescues, and that the government is downplaying its own failures.
And many, including the Oyo State government, now point to possible politicisation. Did you see the video of the Oyo governor, Governor Seyi Makinde, who said on tape: “I announced my candidacy for the president of this country at 4 p.m., and by 9 a.m. the next day there was an abduction in Oyo State”? Bear in mind that, before now, abductions and terrorist attacks had not taken place in the southwest in that manner. So it is not only citizens online who have these concerns; even the governor is suspicious that the entire episode was politically motivated. He said, in effect: because I am not on the same page politically with the federal government, and because I declared my intention to run for president in 2027, the abduction took the wind out of my sail — for how do you campaign to become president when students and teachers in your state have been abducted? He had to cancel everything. If someone of that stature holds that opinion, it should concern us that the insinuations about politicisation are credible, not mere conspiracy theories — because he occupies a vantage position to draw certain conclusions.
The more I think about the possibility that this whole episode was politicised or staged, the more I shudder — at the wickedness in the hearts of our political actors. Without more evidence, I refuse to believe it, because I want to pretend it is not the case. Because if it should be true, then we are dealing with real evil in this country — desperate people who would stop at nothing, who would stage an abduction and treat the beheading of a teacher as mere collateral damage to achieve political ends. If that were so, then devils are running the show, and we should be on our knees praying not only for deliverance from the terrorists and bandits, but from demon-possessed politicians — because nobody who is not demon-possessed would lend himself to such a shenanigan.
And so, although these people have been released, lingering concerns remain. If money was paid to these bandits, is it not within the realm of reason that the ransom will be used to carry out more dastardly acts? And having succeeded in the southwest and been paid, will they not now see the southwest also as their playground? There are vulnerabilities in schools and rural areas, where there is typically less police presence — they went to a rural part of Oyo State and ferried away teachers and students. If these pupils and teachers were in captivity for almost 60 days, think of the long-term psychological trauma. One teacher’s death, and unpunished killers, add to grief and impunity concerns. And there is a trust deficit, because the government has not been transparent about the details of the so-called rescue — which only deepens skepticism, and manufactured details will fill the gap. Overall, it is a partial victory for Nigeria in the midst of a systemic crisis. That is the best way to put it.
As Christians, how should we approach all of this — the abduction, the credible doubts about whether it was carried out by terrorists or politically staged, the raging debate over rescue versus release? First, with thanksgiving and joy. We join Professor Alamu — who, soon after the abduction, knelt weeping before the governor, begging for intervention. I do not know how his students engaged with him the next time he appeared before them after that weeping — but you too would weep if you had a loved one in the hands of those wicked kidnappers. So we must be thankful, and join the families now celebrating the safe return of their loved ones. That is what Christians do in all situations: give thanks to God Almighty. Psalm 34:19: “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” And I imagine that, for Professor Alamu, Bible passages will now have new meaning. Have you ever experienced that? It takes passing through the dark night and coming out of it — when God has brought you through horrible situations, the valley of the shadow of death, the Bible begins to have new meaning; verses become more profound, and you say, “Now I know what the Holy Spirit meant when this was written.”
Thanksgiving and joy should be the primary Christian response — even as we acknowledge this is merely partial victory in the midst of an ongoing systemic crisis. But we must not forget to mourn and empathise with those who were killed. As many families celebrate the return of their loved ones, some families are asking God questions: “If You would save these others, why did You not save my own — my dad, my uncle, my loved one who was beheaded so gruesomely, or shot?” And many Nigerians whose loved ones were abducted and later killed must be asking, “If You answered the prayers of those who prayed for the abductees, why not our prayers? Are You a fair God, a just God?” So we must remember those who mourn; the Bible tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. In this fallen world, we often have no choice but to rejoice and weep at the same time — that is its nature. There is no bright sky without an overhanging cloud somewhere, and, with the eye of faith, no cloud so thick and dark that you cannot see some rays of sunshine.
I always share this: when I bought my first car, soon after I started practising law, I will never forget the day. It was brought to me at the office on Broad Street, Lagos; we had the typical celebration — you “wash” it, as we say in Nigeria — and I was so glad. I drove home, excited to show my parents, my brother, everyone. And as I passed through Iyana-Ipaja on the way, there was some traffic, and looking to my right I saw a man in another car weeping profusely. I have shared this with many friends and family, and I keep sharing it, because I can never forget it. There I was, overjoyed at God’s goodness — and beside me a man weeping so profusely. What could have been wrong? Perhaps someone had died and he was on his way there; perhaps some other horrible news; who knows. But it never left me — that in this fallen world, one person is weeping while another is celebrating; ultimately, an admixture of joy and sorrow. That is why, as Christians, we look forward to the day when we shall be changed, when the old Jerusalem passes away and is replaced by the new, where by faith there will be no more crying, no more sorrow, no more weeping. So this joyful episode must also be bringing sadness to many others — we usually cannot compartmentalise it. Ask pastors and priests: sometimes at 7, 8 or 9 a.m. they conduct a joyful service, and as those celebrants leave, they must conduct a sorrowful one. That is the fallen world — and all this exists so that we keep our eyes on heaven. If we could achieve a state here where we never wept or sorrowed, there would be no need for heaven; if you could make everything perfect in this world, why heaven?
So: thanksgiving and joy, and at the same time mourning, sympathy, prayer — and justice, which is very important. It is not for us to stop praying just because you did not hear that any terrorist was killed or arrested. They are still out there. May the Lord stop them; may He strike them with a rod of iron and shatter them to pieces; may He confound their counsel, in Jesus’ name. We pray, and we also ask for justice — for it is the will of God that we bring the evil person to justice in this world; ultimate vengeance is His, and He has given those in government the sword for the very purpose of bringing the wicked to justice here. So we pray for justice, remaining open to God’s sovereignty without being naive about what has happened. And ultimately, we should be witnesses, telling of the goodness of God. Every occasion is an opportunity to point back to Him. Were you among those released after almost 60 days, and did not perish? You have your God to thank. Did you endure those anxious months waiting on God for a loved one’s release, and He answered? Point to God. Psalm 40: “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the miry clay, set my feet on a rock, and put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see it and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.”
Are you mourning a loved one killed by these terrorists? Look to the God whose Holy Spirit comforts us in all our troubles. Are you concerned about the lawlessness, the possible complicity of the government and military, the lack of justice? Look to God and pray that He will bring justice. That is the point of the parable of the persistent widow: the unjust judge would not rise to give the woman justice, but she kept knocking — and Jesus said men ought always to pray and not lose heart. The unjust judge said, “I don’t fear God, I don’t regard men, but this woman troubles me; let me avenge her so she won’t wear me out.” But the Lord Almighty is not like that: He cannot be wearied, and He loves justice. If an unjust judge will act, “shall God not avenge His own elect, who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you, He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” Let us be among those who still believe this when the Son of Man comes. So, as witnesses, let us say to those rejoicing: rejoice, and give thanks — to God, not merely to a government; acknowledge the government, yes, but give the glory to God. And to those mourning: look to God for justice, in the faith that He who said “I will avenge,” will indeed avenge. Ultimately, this is partial victory in the midst of systemic crisis. And without any qualification: Lord, we thank You for the release of those abducted on May 15, 2026, in Orire, Oyo State. We thank You from the bottom of our hearts and ascribe to You alone all the glory for this wonderful thing You have done.
ON A DEATH AT A MINISTER’S RESIDENCE
Next, a sad and unsettling story. It concerns a lady, said to have been a physiotherapist, who died at the residence of a minister of the federal government. According to a report on X: “Physiotherapist dies at Nigerian minister’s residence, sparking probe questions.” On June 27, 2026, a physiotherapist — reported as Mary Abiola, said to have been seconded from the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences to the Federal Ministry of Works — died at the residence, in Uburu, Ebonyi State, of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, a day after arriving with a colleague. The minister’s office called it an unfortunate incident, noted an immediate medical and police response, and urged an autopsy, which the family initially declined. SaharaReporters cited police sources claiming the women were brought in for the minister, with the body reportedly removed in a distressing state. The case moved to the Ebonyi State CID, but no official police statement or autopsy results had surfaced as of July 13. Conflicting accounts have raised questions and prompted demands for a transparent investigation.
I must stress from the outset that these are allegations and unresolved reports; nothing has been established, and everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence. One of the foremost commentators on public affairs in Nigeria on X, Rinu Oduala — a small lady in stature, but vocal and courageous, and we must commend those who continue to vigorously engage public discourse in Nigeria — wrote, in effect: a dead body is found in the house of a minister whom the President appointed, and he is yet to be arrested; think of a dead body found in the house of a poor man in this country — what would happen? And those questions are not out of place. Once a person has died, you want the matter taken with all seriousness — and many are concerned that it does not appear to be. Unfortunately, in Nigeria we have a criminal justice system with a presumption of innocence that too often favours the high and mighty. Now, the presumption of innocence is itself a good thing, a major component of the rule of law and a constitutional guarantee — that you are presumed innocent until the contrary is proven. But in the same country, that presumption is thrown out of the window when an ordinary person appears complicit, treated with so much force as if already convicted.
This is a story where the truth is yet to be established. According to SaharaReporters, the minister himself has confirmed that the woman died in his residence and says she was a physiotherapist — the suggestion being that he needed physiotherapy at home. And some reports say the minister himself has called for an autopsy to establish the facts of her death. The concern is that, given the enormous influence politicians wield over the police in Nigeria, you would want some independence in the investigation. Some ask what she went there for anyway; some say, “Maybe she had been going there, getting paid, whether for physiotherapy or otherwise, so we don’t even care about her” — but no, we should care about every life lost. Anybody who has died in controversial circumstances deserves a thorough investigation.
And even from a Christian point of view, this counsels us not to get ourselves into situations where, if something should happen, we would find it difficult to explain. Many of us can look back on situations in our lives where, if something had gone wrong, we would have been in serious trouble, because we would have struggled to explain. That is why prudent and circumspect people — in addition to having the fear of God — bear in mind that there are situations to avoid, because if something goes wrong you will have to explain: Why did you invite the women into your house? Why were you meeting that person in that place? That is often how God exposes wrongdoing. I am not saying there has been wrongdoing here — we are still waiting for the facts. But we can admonish ourselves. There are situations where the questions begin — “When did she fall? She fell in your house. What was she doing there?” — and as you answer one, another arises, until the underlying wrongdoing, if any, is exposed: “She said she was somewhere else that day; obviously she was lying. Where did she fall? What was she doing there?” One thing leads to another, and the truth comes out.
Which leads to the overarching point of justice. Conscientious citizens and Christians should be demanding a fair, impartial investigation — without favouritism, cover-ups or political interference. If the minister did nothing wrong, he should be the most interested and invested in bringing the facts to light. And conscientious citizens should demand it — not only for the sake of the lady who died, but for the sake of the rule of law and justice, because it could happen to any other person; we must protect the innocent and the vulnerable. Given that we live in a country where all sorts of evil happen, if there was any underlying evil here, we want it brought to light, so we know exactly what happened and what must be done. There is a broader concern about moral and cultural decay, the normalisation of immorality — many have an estimation of what those ladies went there to do. But it is important not to rush to judgment, but to wait until the matter has been thoroughly investigated. We look forward to that, and we should all be paying attention and continuing to call for justice and an impartial investigation. And let us remind ourselves that wise and circumspect people do not want to be found in situations they cannot fully explain — “What were you doing there? Why was she with you? But did you not say you were going somewhere else?” What a shame it would be to be found so. I pray the Lord will give us grace to walk as wise and circumspect people in this world.
ON MO SALAH AND “NO GREATER HONOUR”
Finally today, a story from Egypt. I came across a report on Instagram with a caption accompanying a state dinner given by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt to celebrate Mohamed Salah and other members of the Egyptian national football team. Mohamed Salah — often called the “Egyptian King” — is Egypt’s beloved football superstar, a forward for Liverpool and a national icon, who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the world’s greatest players, known for his lightning speed, clinical finishing and record-breaking goals.
The occasion: after Egypt’s impressive showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — advancing from the group stage and reaching the round of 16 before a narrow loss to Argentina — President el-Sisi hosted and honoured the national team. The ceremony took place in the Mediterranean city of El Alamein, where the president awarded high national honours, including the Order of Merit, praising the team, and Salah in particular, for their performance, discipline, and the pride they brought to Egypt and the Arab world. In a moment captured on video, the captain, Mohamed Salah, addressed the president, thanking him for his support and saying — and this is the point that got me interested — “There is no greater honour than this recognition.”
Being publicly feted by one’s country’s president is indeed a profound honour. I do not know of anyone, even among us on the Lord’s side, or any right-thinking citizen, who would not be deeply honoured by recognition from his country or its president. Football in Egypt, as in many nations, is a unifying force and a source of joy, and this recognition from the highest office affirms that the players’ sweat, sacrifices and excellence serve something bigger than personal glory. Because we look at footballers doing great things and assume they are merely talented, merely gifted. That is not the case — these are people who sweated and sacrificed so much to be in shape. Paul wrote about them: athletes competing for a crown discipline their bodies, for without such discipline you cannot rise to the top. So when athletes like this are celebrated by their countries, it is rightly a recognition of the sweat and sacrifice they invested in making their nation proud. It is no understatement for someone in Salah’s position to say, “There is no greater honour than this recognition.”
How can we, on the Lord’s side, learn from this? We can draw a rich parallel from Scripture. Think of King David, a man after God’s own heart — though a mighty warrior and leader, he gave glory to God over and over. When he received the great prophecy that the Messiah would come from his line, he said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?” Whereas a citizen honoured by his president says, “There is no greater honour,” think, dear Christian, what it will be for you to appear in heaven, and, at the call of your name, for your Lord to rise from His throne to receive you — as He rose to receive Stephen. What greater honour will that be? That is the most fitting situation for those words. For a man like me or you to be welcomed into heaven, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ standing up and introducing you to your Maker, saying, “My Father, this is my brother, your son; I present him to you faultless” — and the Lord God Almighty wrapping you in His embrace.
It is a great honour to be honoured by one’s country, and in Salah’s case that honour is the reward for sacrifice, diligence and discipline over the years. And let all of us on the Lord’s side be reminded of what our Lord said: those who endure to the end shall be saved — those who persevere, continue to honour the Lord, and keep themselves unspotted from this world. That salvation will be celebrated at the marriage feast of the Lamb — and what an honour it will be for you and me. I trust the Lord Himself will preserve us until that day, when we receive that honour and say, in the best way possible, “There is no greater honour.” I pray the Lord will bless us with the privilege of hearing that voice say, “Welcome home, good and faithful servant.” As many countries honour their teams after the 2026 World Cup, so must we on the Lord’s side keep front and centre that day when we too will be celebrated, and will be able to say, indeed, there is no greater honour.
I want to thank you very much for being with me this morning on GospelBells Radio, On the Lord’s Side — Christian perspectives on news and current events. I hope to be with you again tomorrow by the grace of God. Whatever you do today, please remain firm on the Lord’s side. God bless you. You are listening to GospelBellsRadio.com, the Christian internet radio with a mission to engage the culture with the mind of Christ. Keep listening, and invite others too. God bless you. Engaging the culture with the mind of Christ.
