Shock and anger have continued to ripple across Nigeria as details emerge about the demands set by terrorists for the release of the Oyo state abducted victims.
The May 15 coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area, which saw dozens of students and teachers kidnapped, have sparked widespread condemnation and urgent calls for action from government, community leaders, and citizens alike.
The abductions targeted Community Secondary School and two primary schools in communities including Esiele, Yawota, and Alawusa, resulting in the kidnapping of approximately 39 students and 7 teachers. One teacher was killed, heightening the tragedy.
It was gathered that the demands from the terrorists that abducted the Oyo victims include large sums of money, vehicles, the release of imprisoned associates, and even the implementation of Sharia law.
The demands from the terrorists that abducted the Oyo victims have also been confirmed by Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass gathered that the two commanders whose release is reportedly being sought are Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, alias Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, also called Mallam Mamuda.
The duo are leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan, JAMBS, also known as 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.
They are also linked to the 2022 Kuje prison break.
They were arrested between May and July 2025 and are currently standing trial on terrorism charges before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, with their trial commencing on January 15, 2026.
Usman was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 11, 2025, after pleading guilty to one count of illegal mining — which he admitted he used to fund arms procurement for terrorism and kidnapping.
He denied 31 other counts and remains in DSS custody pending trial on those charges.
His deputy, Abba, pleaded not guilty to all 32 counts and is also standing trial before the same court.
One of the demands being requested by the terrorists that abducted the Oyo victims includes ₦1bn, to be paid into a bank account in the Republic of Benin.
Meanwhile, the demands have immediately generated a reaction from the Muslim community in Oyo State.
The community condemned the Sharia-related demands reportedly made by terrorists holding teachers and pupils abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
They declared that the criminals do not represent Islam or Muslims.
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 contrary to Islamic teachings.
The group said 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 said.
The organisation 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.
Also, a retired Brigadier-General in the Nigerian Army, Bashir Adewinbi, urged caution, even as he said the reported ransom demands had put the government in a tight corner.
He warned that the government should consider the intricacies of the negotiation process, the ransom demands, and the security implications for the country.
Adewinbi, who is the immediate past Commandant of the Amotekun Corps in Osun State, said, “The current situation brings to the fore the saying that prevention is better than cure. We are now at the mercy of the terrorists because of the safety of our people in their custody. We cannot imagine the trauma that the victims are going through.
“The lives of the people in captivity are very important, and looking at the implications of the terrorists’ conditions, it is something that calls for caution. 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.
“A stitch in time saves nine. I think the government is in a position to determine how it wants to approach the matter based on the information and capacity it has to rescue the pupils and teachers without any harm. It is a very difficult situation.
“Many will say the government should give the terrorists whatever they want, but it is a very dicey situation, and it depends on what the government prioritises. 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.”
Another retired Brigadier-General in the Army, Peter Aro, said the government’s immediate priority should be establishing proof that the abductees are still alive before making any decision.
He noted that prolonged captivity could pose serious risks to young children, especially given the prevailing 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 said.
The retired military officer also cautioned against public statements that could inadvertently aid the kidnappers, noting that criminal groups often monitor media reports and public reactions.
Aro argued that years of ransom payments had emboldened kidnappers and stressed the need for a firm response.
According to him, security agencies should deploy all available intelligence and operational assets to secure the victims’ release.
Maj. Gen. Segun Fatola (retd.) said Nigeria should adopt tougher measures in tackling terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping, arguing that leniency and negotiations had failed to address the menace.
Fatola recalled that the introduction of stringent penalties against armed robbery in the 1970s significantly reduced the crime, stressing that terrorism should be treated as an act of war rather than a criminal enterprise.
According to him, negotiating with terrorists and attempting to deradicalise them would not solve the problem.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Foundation for Peace Professionals, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, urged the Federal and state governments to maintain a firm stance against negotiating with terrorist groups.
“Terrorist groups strategically deploy kidnapping, propaganda, and fear to extract financial and political concessions. Yielding to such demands creates a dangerous precedent that encourages further attacks,” he said.
He warned that the long-term consequences of negotiations outweigh any immediate relief they may provide.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Security and Intelligence Limited, Kabiru Adamu, advised the government to undertake a detailed risk assessment before deciding whether to accept or reject the terrorists’ demands.
“By that, I mean what would be the consequence of either accepting or rejecting their demands. If, for instance, accepting their demand poses a very low risk to Nigeria as a country, we can go ahead and accept it.
“If, on the other hand, accepting their demand poses a high risk to Nigeria, and I’ll give you an example. The most significant of their demands is the release of the terrorist commanders. We know what these commanders have done and what they can do going forward.
“So, if we decide to accept the ransom demand and release them, aside from the immediate risk, which is that we are likely to see more attacks because these commanders are not going to repent and will continue their activities, another risk is that it will embolden other groups to do the same thing. They will kidnap our students and other people and negotiate for the release of other commanders in lawful custody. This is the kind of risk assessment that should be conducted.
“It should be a detailed risk assessment involving the entire intelligence community, after which the President can be advised on whether to proceed or not,” he added.
