Sharia Demand for Oyo Abductees’ Release: Kidnappers Do Not Speak for Islam — Muslim Community

The Muslim Community of Oyo State has strongly condemned the recent Sharia-related demands made by abductors holding pupils and teachers hostage in Oriire Local Government Area, declaring that terrorists do not represent Islamic values and cannot speak for Muslims.

The leadership of the community issued this statement on Friday, June 5, 2026, following recent criminal acts where kidnappers attempted to justify their actions using religious rhetoric. The community clarified that Islam strictly forbids kidnapping, terrorism, and the extortion of innocent citizens, emphasizing that legitimate Sharia advocates for justice, peace, and the protection of human life—principles that directly contradict the violent actions of criminals.

Newstrends reports that no fewer than 39 students and seven teachers were abducted when terrorists attacked three schools in Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026. Two of the abducted victims have been killed, while the remaining captives—including toddlers as young as two years old—remain in captivity, exposed to harsh conditions in the forests. The attack marked one of the first mass school abductions of its scale in the South-West, a region previously considered relatively insulated from the mass kidnapping crises that have plagued Northern Nigeria. The assailants reportedly stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in a highly coordinated operation.

According to reports, the kidnappers have expanded their demands beyond financial ransom to include ideological and political conditions. The group is reportedly demanding ₦1 billion to be paid into a bank account in the Republic of Benin, two Hilux vehicles, the release of suspected accomplices held in Oyo and Ibadan prisons, and the implementation of Sharia law in Oyo State. The development was reportedly attributed to the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, who disclosed that the abductors had moved beyond financial demands to include ideological and political conditions. The Oyo State House of Assembly has since rejected negotiations with the abductors, insisting on intensified rescue operations instead.

Reacting to developments that have trailed the government’s efforts to secure the release of the abductees, the Muslim community in Oyo, in a statement signed by its chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni, and secretary-general, Alhaji Murisiku Abidemi Siyanbade, issued a clear condemnation of the abductors’ demands. The group stated: “In the Holy Qur’an, Chapter 3, verse 32, Almighty Allah says: ‘Therefore, We have ordained that he who slays a soul for spreading mischief on earth shall be as if he had slain all mankind, and he who saves a life shall be as if he had given life to all mankind. And indeed, again and again, did our messengers come to them with clear directives, yet many of them continue to commit excesses on earth.'” The leadership called on all Muslims and residents of Oyo State to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and reject any attempts to distort the peaceful teachings of Islam.

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The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, the foremost Islamic umbrella body representing the Muslim Ummah across the South-West, has also strongly condemned the abduction and dismissed any association between the kidnappers’ demands and authentic Islamic teachings. In a statement signed by top Islamic leaders including the Chief Imam of Ekiti State, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere; the Chief Imam of Oyo State, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere; and the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh AbdulRasaq AbdulAzeez Ishola, the group declared that such criminal acts are unacceptable and contrary to the teachings of Islam. “Such criminal acts against innocent children, educators, and law-abiding citizens are unacceptable, condemnable, and contrary to the teachings of Islam,” the League stated. “Islam places great value on the sanctity of human life, security, and social harmony.” Quoting from the Qur’an, the clerics referenced Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:32: “Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.” They also cited the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW): “A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand people are safe.”

The Muslim community, under the aegis of the Chief Imam of Ibadanland and Grand Chief Imam of Oyo State, Sheikh Al-Imam Abdul-Ganiyy Abubakar Agbotomokekere, has announced a special prayer for the speedy and safe return of abductees from schools in Oriire Local Government Area. The prayer is scheduled for Sunday at Yidi Agodi Praying Ground, Ibadan, and will be led by the Chief Imam himself. “We implore all Muslims in Oyo State to join us at the prayer session,” the statement added. This follows previous spiritual interventions by the League of Imams and Alfas, who have commenced special prayers, supplications, and spiritual engagements across Yorubaland, seeking Allah’s intervention for the restoration of peace, security, and harmony in the region. Notably, during the recent Eid El-Kabir prayers at the same Agodi Eid Praying Ground, worshippers had already offered prayers for the safe return of the abducted victims.

The Muslim Community of Oyo State reiterated its full support for law enforcement agencies and urged authorities to track down the perpetrators swiftly. “We appreciate the intervention of the Oyo State government, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and pray to Almighty Allah to help them in their onerous intervention,” the statement read. “We also pray for our security agencies for the help and guidance of Allah in their rescue efforts so that there will not be any collateral casualty, as they conquer the criminals and bring back home safely the abductees, amongst whom are toddlers as young as 2 years old, exposed to very cruel treatment in the forests, in such a harsh condition. Our hearts bleed.” The League of Imams and Alfas similarly appealed to security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the lives and properties of all Nigerians irrespective of their sex, age, tribe or religion, and to arrest and prosecute those criminal elements fueling kidnapping, ritual killings, armed robberies, and other criminal activities in the country.

The Oyo State Government has urged journalists to refrain from publicizing details of negotiations with the kidnappers, warning that disclosure of sensitive information could jeopardize rescue efforts and lead to fatalities. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has visited the affected communities and ordered intensified rescue operations, with additional tactical and intelligence assets deployed to reinforce ongoing operations within the area and adjoining forests. The Defence Headquarters has also deployed special forces and aerial surveillance assets to Oyo State, with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, ordering a comprehensive security reinforcement across the general area. Security operatives have reportedly been slowed down by the presence of mines and improvised explosive devices planted by the kidnappers, who are also using the victims, especially children, as human shields. As the crisis continues, the Muslim community in Oyo State has made its position unequivocally clear: the abductors’ demand for Sharia law does not represent Islamic values, and terrorists cannot speak for the faith.

Sharia Demand for Oyo Abductees’ Release: Kidnappers Do Not Speak for Islam — Muslim Community

Kidnapping in South-West Is a Business, Not a Religious War — Ex-Minister Olanrewaju

Former Minister of Communications, Maj. Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd.), has described the ongoing kidnapping and terrorism in the South-West as a profit-driven enterprise rather than a campaign rooted in territorial ambition or religious ideology.

Olanrewaju, in a statement titled “The Insurgency War/Terrorism in Southwest – The way I see it,” released by his Media Office on Thursday, June 4, 2026, noted that the violence currently affecting parts of the zone should not be misconstrued as a struggle for territorial control or Islamic expansionism. According to him, the perpetrators have adopted guerrilla warfare tactics as their primary method of engagement against both the Nigerian Armed Forces and civilian populations. He noted that this approach is strategically designed to overstretch security forces, instill fear among residents, and create instability within affected communities.

The former minister further warned that the situation may be exploited by certain sponsors seeking to advance political objectives, including the pursuit of power. He stressed that the South-West, particularly Lagos State, cannot consider itself insulated from the broader security challenges facing the country. “This insurgency war/terrorism has no territorial values or Islamic faith evangelism or expansion. It is purely an ongoing business affair, as I could observe,” Olanrewaju stated. “Lagos State and the South-West in general cannot be isolated from occasional instability arising from the actions of infiltrated terrorists who kidnap for ransom, kill to instill fear, and pursue political ends—all aimed at creating panic and disrupting peace through the destruction of lives and property,” he added.

The retired general emphasized that the security threats in the zone have evolved beyond mere banditry and should be formally recognized as terrorism. He cautioned that without decisive and coordinated action, Nigeria’s territorial integrity and national stability could be severely undermined. “These are not bandits anymore but terrorists in our homeland. The counter-terrorism war will not finish soon. Unless there is a full-scale war against the so-called terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, our territorial integrity will be seriously violated, and the entire nation will have no peace,” he warned.

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Olanrewaju called for the immediate declaration of a State of Emergency across affected states, describing it as a necessary step to activate comprehensive contingency measures. He also proposed that state governors consult senior retired military officers for strategic advice and guidance in addressing the crisis. “The declaration of a State of Emergency is knocking for serious contingency plans to be activated. Senior retired armed services officers could be recalled in each state by the Chief Executive for consultation and advice on the way forward,” he said. The former army commander called for a full-scale, non-conventional military operation as the most effective approach to defeating the insurgents and restoring lasting peace to the region.

Olanrewaju’s intervention comes against the backdrop of the coordinated abduction of school pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026. On that day, armed terrorists stormed three schools — Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele — abducting students and teachers in what has been described as a highly organized operation. The attack marked the first mass school abduction of its scale in the South-West, a region previously considered relatively insulated from the mass kidnapping crises that have plagued Northern Nigeria since the Chibok abduction of 2014. According to reports, one of the abducted teachers, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded in a gruesome manner by his captors, deepening public outrage and triggering protests across the country. The abduction has forced the Oyo State Government to close public schools in four local government areas — Surulere, Oriire, Oyo East, and Olorunsogo — until further notice.

Analysts have drawn parallels between the Oriire abduction and previous mass school kidnappings that occurred during election cycles. The Chibok abduction of 276 schoolgirls in 2014 cast a long shadow over former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign. Four years later, in 2018, 110 Dapchi schoolgirls were abducted in Yobe State as President Muhammadu Buhari prepared for the 2019 elections. Now, as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum under President Bola Tinubu, Nigeria is witnessing another disturbing wave of school attacks — including the unprecedented spread of such incidents into the South-West. “Three election cycles. Three major school abduction crises. Three administrations placed on the defensive at precisely the moment they are most vulnerable to political erosion,” observed Yushau A. Shuaib in a Premium Times analysis.

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On the same day as the Oriire attack — Friday, May 15, 2026 — terrorists also struck in Borno State, abducting 42 schoolchildren from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira Uba Local Government Area. In a single day, more than 80 Nigerian children and their teachers were taken from their classrooms. Weeks later, many remain in captivity. An editorial by Premium Times noted that the attackers used explosives during the Oyo operation, and rescue team members sustained injuries after encountering explosive devices planted by the kidnappers — a tactic suggesting ideological motivation beyond economic banditry.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and the establishment of additional military bases along vulnerable corridors linking Kwara and parts of the southern region. A high-powered federal delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, visited the affected communities in Oyo State. Additionally, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, is reportedly leading a “technology-driven” rescue operation, with six persons believed to be informants and logistics suppliers already arrested. President Tinubu has also reiterated the necessity of state police as a long-term solution to Nigeria’s security challenges. “Cases of kidnapping further make imperative the establishment of state police to provide more personnel in some of the underserved areas. The National Assembly should accelerate the enactment of the law creating state police,” Tinubu was quoted as saying. The South-West governors had previously agreed to establish a Security Trust Fund and a real-time digital security platform devoted to raising threat alerts and coordinating rapid cross-border response to criminality. Lagos State Governor and Chairman of the South-West governors’ forum, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, affirmed their collective commitment to reclaiming the forests and ensuring these spaces no longer serve as safe corridors for bandits and kidnappers.

Kidnapping in South-West Is a Business, Not a Religious War — Ex-Minister Olanrewaju

FG Considers Tougher Age Limits for Social Media Use by Children

LAGOS — The Federal Government has indicated support for stricter regulation of children’s access to social media platforms, following new survey findings showing strong public backing for tighter controls over minors’ online activity.

The position was made known at a national roundtable on child online protection held in Lagos, organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

The event brought together policymakers, digital rights experts, regulators and stakeholders to discuss online safety for children amid rising concerns over cyber risks and exposure to harmful content.

According to data presented at the event, a nationwide survey conducted by the ministry showed that 83.4 per cent of 585 respondents supported some form of regulation or restriction on children’s access to social media.

The survey, presented by Senior Special Adviser to the Minister, Kasim Sodangi, also revealed that 64.8 per cent of respondents supported direct regulation, while 18.6 per cent backed restrictions but preferred alternative age thresholds.

Findings further showed strong public support for raising the minimum age for social media use, with 64.5 per cent of respondents favouring an age limit of 16 or 17 years, higher than the widely used global benchmark of 13 years.

The ministry said nearly all respondents were Nigerians, suggesting the results reflect strong local concern over online child safety and digital exposure risks.

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The poll also highlighted widespread anxiety about children’s digital experiences, with more than 93 per cent of respondents expressing concern about risks faced by minors online. Of this figure, 69.2 per cent described their concern as extreme, while 24.3 per cent said they were highly concerned.

Exposure to harmful and inappropriate content was identified as the most pressing issue, with over 90 per cent of respondents flagging it as a major risk. Other concerns included cyberbullying, cyberstalking, online grooming, digital addiction and exploitation of minors.

The survey also pointed to a knowledge gap in digital safety awareness, with nearly three-quarters of respondents saying many parents and children are not sufficiently informed about cybercrime laws and consequences of online misconduct.

In addition, an overwhelming 97.6 per cent of respondents supported stronger responsibility for technology companies, urging social media platforms to adopt proactive measures to protect younger users from harm.

Speaking at the roundtable, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, said the rapid expansion of digital platforms has made it necessary for governments to strengthen safeguards for children in the digital space.

Tijani said while social media offers opportunities for learning, creativity and innovation, it also exposes minors to significant risks that must be addressed through structured regulation.

“The debate should focus on implementing age restrictions effectively rather than questioning the need for such safeguards,” he said, adding that Nigeria can leverage digital identity systems and platform verification tools to enforce age-based rules.

He stressed that challenges around enforcement should not prevent the introduction of protective measures, noting that parents, schools, technology firms and civil society must all play roles in ensuring safer online environments for children.

Also speaking, the National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), Dr. Vincent Olatunji, warned that children are increasingly vulnerable to online threats.

He listed risks such as cyberbullying, cyberstalking, exposure to harmful content and mental health challenges as major concerns in the digital space.

Olatunji emphasised that while internet access remains important for education and development, stronger safeguards are required to ensure that children are protected from abuse and exploitation online.

The Federal Government is expected to continue consultations with stakeholders, including telecom operators, technology companies, educators and civil society organisations, before arriving at a final policy direction on social media regulation for minors.

FG Considers Tougher Age Limits for Social Media Use by Children