The kidnappers who abducted students and teachers from schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have demanded, among other things, the release of some notorious terrorists.
The kidnappers, who targeted three schools in the Esinele, Yawota, and Alawusa areas on May 15, allegedly requested the release of imprisoned terrorist leaders, a ransom, two Hilux trucks, and the enforcement of Sharia law prior to releasing the hostages.
Chronicle NG gathered that 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 is from the Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, and Al-Nigeri is from Daura, Katsina State.
According to the findings, the terrorists are leaders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), a breakaway offshoot of Boko Haram, and are accused of assisting and abetting terrorist operations in the country between 2013 and 2015.
According to reports, the suspects were captured between May and July 2025 and are currently on trial for terrorism in a suit filed on September 4, 2025, under the case number FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025.
The trial of the suspects began on January 15, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
When asked why the government kept the terrorist leaders in custody despite the horrors they were accused of committing, one of the senior security officers engaged in the trial stated, ‘ We did not kill the terrorist leaders immediately when they were caught. We have a justice system and court process which must be followed.”
Chronicle NG reports that the Muslim community in Oyo State has condemned the Sharia-related demands reportedly made by terrorists holding teachers and pupils abducted from schools in the 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.
In a statement issued on Friday and jointly signed by its chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Sanvni, and secretary-general, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, the Muslim community in Oyo State described the terrorists’ action as criminal and a negation of Islamic teachings.
The group stated attempts by the abductors 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 partly read.
