Fresh details have emerged about the conditions reportedly set by terrorists holding dozens of teachers and pupils abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The victims were kidnapped during coordinated attacks on schools in Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15. Since then, families and residents have anxiously awaited news of their release as negotiations continue behind the scenes.
Reports indicate that the abductors have presented a four-point demand before they will free the captives. The demands include the release of two detained terrorist commanders, payment of a huge ransom, provision of vehicles and the implementation of a Sharia-related law.
Reported Demands by the Terrorists
- Release of Two Detained Ansaru Commanders
- Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas Mukhtar or Mallam Mamuda.
- Abubakar Abba, also known as Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri.
- Payment of Ransom
- The terrorists are reportedly demanding ₦1 billion for the release of the victims. Reports claim the money is to be paid into a bank account in the Republic of Benin, although authorities have not officially confirmed the figure.
- Provision of Two Hilux Vehicles
- The group is also said to be demanding two Toyota Hilux vehicles as part of the conditions for releasing the abductees.
- Implementation of Sharia-Related Law
- The abductors reportedly want the enforcement of a Sharia-related legal framework.
The two commanders at the centre of the demands are alleged leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS), popularly known as Ansaru, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram. Both men are currently facing terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Mahmud Usman was arrested in 2025 and later sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for illegal mining after admitting that proceeds from the activity were used to procure weapons and fund terrorist operations. However, he remains in custody while standing trial on dozens of additional terrorism-related charges.
His deputy, Abubakar Abba, also remains in custody and is contesting multiple terrorism counts before the same court.
The crisis took a tragic turn two days after the abduction when the terrorists released a video showing the killing of one of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele. Governor Seyi Makinde later confirmed the teacher’s death, describing it as heartbreaking.
Security experts have warned against yielding to the terrorists’ demands, especially the release of detained commanders, arguing that such concessions could strengthen terrorist networks, encourage future kidnappings and pose a major threat to national security.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has remained silent on the reported demands, insisting that revealing details of ongoing rescue efforts could undermine attempts to secure the safe release of the remaining victims.
