Oyo Muslims reacts as terrorists reportedly demand ‘Sharia law’ as conditions to release k!dnapped teachers and students
Oyo Muslims reacts as terrorists reportedly demand ‘Sharia law’ as conditions to release kidnapped teachers and students
The Muslim community in Oyo State has condemned the Sharia-related demands reportedly made by terrorists who kidnapped teachers and pupils from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, declaring that the criminals do not represent Islam or Muslims.
The position came as public and private schools across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas shut down in solidarity with the abducted victims.
Security analysts who spoke to Saturday PUNCH in separate interviews, offered differing views on how the Federal Government could respond to the terrorists’ demands.
It was gathered that the terrorists who attacked three schools in Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15, reportedly demanded the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law before freeing the captives.
In a statement released on Friday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Sanni, and Secretary-General, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, the Muslim community in Oyo State described the terrorists’ action as criminal and contrary to Islamic teachings.
The group said attempts by the terrorists to justify their actions through religious rhetoric amounted to a distortion of Islam.
“Islam forbids kidnapping, terrorism and the extortion of innocent citizens. Legitimate Sharia promotes justice, peace and the sanctity of human life, values that stand in direct opposition to the activities of criminal groups,” the statement said.
The organisation further added that terrorists could not claim to speak on behalf of Muslims.
“Terrorists do not represent Islamic values and cannot speak for Muslims,” it stated.
Quoting Chapter 5 Verse 32 of the Holy Qur’an, the community stressed that Islam places a high premium on the protection of human life and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue those in captivity.
The development came amid growing concerns over the fate of the abducted teachers and pupils.
A traditional ruler in one of the affected communities, the Eleshi of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, appealed to the government to secure the release of the victims.
“We are aware of the ransom demands of the terrorists, but we are helpless. We are looking up to the government and pleading for intervention,” he said.
The terrorist commanders
According to Saturday PUNCH, two of the terrorists being demanded for release are Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, alias Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, who is also known as Mallam Mamuda.
Bara’a hails from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, while Al-Nigeri is from Daura, Katsina State.
Investigation revealed that the two prisoners are leaders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, and are alleged to have aided and abetted acts of terrorism in the country between 2013 and 2015.
It was gathered that the suspects were arrested between May and July 2025 and are currently standing trial on terrorism charges in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, filed on September 4, 2025.
The trial of the suspects commenced on January 15, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Speaking on the reasons the government continued to keep the terrorist leaders in custody despite the atrocities they were alleged to have committed, one of the top security officers involved in the trial said, “We did not kill the terrorist leaders immediately they were caught. We have a justice system and court process which must be followed.”
Do you think the Oyo State government should yield to the demands of the terrorists by implementing Sharia law to free the victims? Do you support the implementation of Sharia law in Oyo State and the South-West? Share your thoughts in the comment below.
