The crisis surrounding the abduction of teachers and pupils from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has entered a dangerous new phase following revelations that the terrorists holding the captives have issued a list of demands that includes the release of detained Ansaru terror commanders currently standing trial in Abuja, payment of ransom, the provision of two Hilux vehicles, and the implementation of Sharia-related law, demands that have prompted the Muslim community in Oyo State to issue a public condemnation declaring that “terrorists do not represent Islamic values and cannot speak for Muslims.”
The demands have also triggered the closure of both public and private schools across all 33 local government areas of Oyo State in solidarity with the victims, and have divided security analysts over how the Federal Government should respond, with retired military officers warning that the government faces an agonising choice between the immediate safety of the captives and the long-term security consequences of yielding to terrorist demands.
As of the time of this report, the abducted teachers and pupils have spent approximately three weeks in captivity since the May 15 attack, with no confirmed rescue. The Oyo State Government has maintained silence on the terms of any negotiations, with the state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, stating that disclosing the government’s strategy would be “unhelpful” and “unfair to the process.”
The abductors, who attacked three schools in Esinele, Yawota, and Alawusa communities of Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, have reportedly communicated a list of demands that goes far beyond the typical ransom requests associated with Nigerian kidnapping cases.
The demands include the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom (the specific figure has not been publicly disclosed), the provision of two Hilux vehicles, and the implementation of Sharia-related law. The inclusion of ideological and political demands alongside financial ones distinguishes this case from ordinary criminal kidnapping and aligns it with the pattern of demands typically associated with Islamist insurgent groups operating in Nigeria’s North-East and North-West regions.
The Terrorist Commanders
The two commanders whose release is being demanded have been identified as Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, alias Isah Adam, Mahmud Al-Nigeri, or Mallam Mamuda.
Abu Bara’a hails from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, while Al-Nigeri is from Daura, Katsina State. The duo are leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), a breakaway faction of Boko Haram that has been designated a terrorist organisation.
They are alleged to have aided and abetted acts of terrorism in Nigeria between 2013 and 2015. The suspects were arrested between May and July 2025 and are currently standing trial on terrorism charges in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, filed on September 4, 2025. The trial commenced on January 15, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
A senior security officer involved in the trial explained why the commanders remain in custody rather than having been dealt with through extrajudicial means: “We did not kill the terrorist leaders immediately they were caught. We have a justice system and court process which must be followed.”
The demand for their release effectively seeks to undo the work of security agencies that spent months tracking and arresting the commanders, and to remove them from the judicial process where they are being held accountable for alleged terrorism offences.
Muslim Community: “Islam Forbids Kidnapping”
The inclusion of Sharia-related demands by the abductors prompted the Muslim community in Oyo State to issue a swift and unequivocal condemnation.
In a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Sanvni, and Secretary-General, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, the Muslim community described the terrorists’ actions as criminal and contrary to Islamic teachings.
“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 read.
The community rejected any attempt by the abductors to justify their actions through religious rhetoric: “Terrorists do not represent Islamic values and cannot speak for Muslims.”
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 statement is significant because it denies the abductors the religious legitimacy they appear to be seeking through their Sharia-related demands, making clear that the Muslim community in Oyo State views the abduction as a criminal act rather than a religious campaign.
Schools Shut Across All 33 LGAs
The crisis has led to the closure of both public and private schools across all 33 local government areas of Oyo State.
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Fatai Hassan, disclosed that all public secondary and primary schools would remain closed until the abductees are rescued alive.
Private schools followed suit. The Ibadan District Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Joshua Olaoluwa, circulated a message to member schools stating: “Due to the recent kidnapping of teachers and students in Oriire LGA and rising security concerns, all NAPPS member schools in Ibadan District will be closed on Friday, June 5, 2026, as a mark of solidarity and for prayers for the victims’ safe release and the protection of all schools.”
The message warned school proprietors to document any attempts to disrupt school activities: “If anyone tries to disrupt school activities before or after Friday, please record a video if it is safe to do so, report to the nearest police station, and inform your NAPPS LGA coordinator and the district office immediately.”
The chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association of one of the affected schools, who requested anonymity, explained the decision: “We had already held a meeting over the closure of the school. We had to consider those students writing their terminal examinations. Otherwise, we would have joined the public protest since Monday. We eventually shut down the school on Wednesday.”
Traditional Ruler Appeals
The Eleshi of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, a traditional ruler in one of the affected communities, 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 stated.
Security Experts: “Government Is in a Dilemma”
Retired military officers and security analysts offered differing perspectives on how the government should respond to the terrorists’ demands, reflecting the agonising nature of the choices involved.
Retired Brigadier-General Bashir Adewinbi, the immediate past Commandant of the Amotekun Corps in Osun State, said the government had been put in “a tight corner” and warned that giving terrorists cash would empower them.
“Anytime you give terrorists cash, you are creating insecurity because you are empowering them. They will use the money to recruit more fighters, expand their operations and commit more harm,” Adewinbi stated.
“The clear thing is that the government is in a dilemma now. Nobody wants to lose his or her loved ones, and these criminals are deadly,” he added.
Retired Brigadier-General Peter Aro said the government’s immediate priority should be establishing proof that the abductees are still alive before taking any decision. He warned that young children could struggle to survive prolonged captivity in harsh weather conditions.
“It is a harsh reality that infants and young children can find it incredibly difficult to survive for up to 21 days under extreme tropical weather, especially during this gruelling season,” Aro cautioned.
He also warned against public statements that could inadvertently aid the kidnappers, noting that criminal groups often monitor media reports and public reactions.
Retired Major-General Segun Fatola argued that Nigeria should adopt tougher measures, saying leniency and negotiations had failed. He recalled that stringent penalties against armed robbery in the 1970s significantly reduced the crime and argued that terrorism should be treated as an act of war rather than a criminal enterprise.
