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.

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 development came amid growing concerns over the fate of the abducted teachers and pupils.

A traditional ruler in one of the affected communities, the Eleshi of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, 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 said.

Schools shut in 33LGAs

Findings by Saturday PUNCH revealed that the management of private schools issued a statement on Wednesday directing all schools to shut down from Friday, June 5.

One of the internal memos obtained by our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday read, “Due to the situation at hand and the ongoing protest in the state, all pupils and students should stay at home until further notice. No school for now until further notice.”

Also, a message circulated to private schools by the Ibadan District Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Joshua Olaoluwa, and obtained by Saturday PUNCH, read, “Good day, all school owners/administrators. 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.

“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 state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Fatai Hassan, had earlier disclosed that all public secondary and primary schools would remain closed until the abductees are rescued alive.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH in Ibadan, the chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association of one of the affected schools, who requested anonymity, said, “We had already held a meeting over the closure of the school. You know this is more or less a remote area. It is not that remote, but we cannot compare schools in this environment with those around the Agbowo-UI, Bodija, Sango or Mokola axis.

“But 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,” the source said.

The terrorist commanders

Saturday PUNCH 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 hails from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, while Al-Nigeri is from Daura, Katsina State.

Findings revealed that the duo are leaders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/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.

It was gathered that the suspects were arrested between May and July 2025 and are currently standing trial on terrorism charges in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, filed on September 4, 2025.

The trial of the suspects commenced on January 15, 2026, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Asked why the government continued to keep the terrorist leaders in custody despite the atrocities they were alleged to have committed, one of the top security officers involved in the trial said, “We did not kill the terrorist leaders immediately they were caught. We have a justice system and court process which must be followed.”

FG in dilemma

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.”

Govt needs proof of victims’ safety – Ex-general

However, 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 taking 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.

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.

In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Hamzat noted that terrorism thrives on leverage and that yielding to demands made through hostage videos, public appeals, and ransom requests effectively rewards violent coercion.

“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.

Hamzat recommended that governments intensify intelligence gathering, disrupt ransom payment channels, strengthen surveillance capabilities and provide structured support for affected families.

However, a Lagos-based security analyst, Ayo Adegbenro, described the kidnapping crisis as a complex challenge requiring a nuanced response.

According to him, the persistence of kidnapping is often aided by collaborators within affected communities.

“The kidnapping issue has become a delicate and complex matter to address. I believe it is deeply rooted in the active collaboration of people within the affected communities,” Adegbenro said.

Referring to recent arrests linked to kidnapping cases, he noted that suspects are often locals familiar with the terrain and communities where the crimes occur.

He lamented that kidnapping had evolved into a lucrative criminal enterprise in Nigeria, making it difficult for authorities to determine the best response in every situation.

Adegbenro explained that while successful negotiations may secure the release of victims, they could also encourage kidnappers to target more high-profile individuals in anticipation of future payouts.

‘There’s need for risk assessment’

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.

A retired officer of the Department of State Services, Akin Adeyi, called for the adoption of a carrot-and-stick approach.

He advised that the government should continue its rescue efforts without jeopardising the safety of the victims.

Adeyi said the terrorists were being emboldened by negotiations and warned the government against empowering the criminals.

“If the terrorists are given money, they use it to buy weapons and deploy them against the country. The money sustains their activities. It never ends. I will advise the government to do everything possible to rescue the abductees, but by now, it should adopt a carrot-and-stick approach.

“We cannot continue to empower these terrorists. They are emboldened, and it is a serious affront.

“The victims have spent three weeks in captivity now. If the government has not recorded any tangible progress in the past three weeks, that is when I will advise that it should negotiate with the terrorists. If the government has so far made reasonable efforts, let us be patient with it. By the grace of God, our people will be brought back alive,” he stated.

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 terrorists.

He noted that such engagements only embolden criminal groups and perpetuate insecurity across the country.

According to him, terrorism thrives on leverage, and negotiating with armed groups under pressure, particularly through hostage videos and public appeals, effectively rewards and legitimises violent coercion.

“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 stated.

Hamzat stressed that security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Army and other security forces, should prioritise intelligence-led rescue operations aimed at securing the release of victims rather than yielding to the demands of kidnappers and terrorists.

“A firm non-negotiation policy is essential to dismantle the economic and psychological foundations of terrorism.

“The Federal and state governments should maintain a strict no-negotiation posture with terrorist groups, intensify intelligence-led rescue operations, disrupt ransom payment channels and financial networks, strengthen rapid-response and surveillance capabilities, and support affected families through structured, non-public mechanisms,” he said.

Oyo keeps mum

However, the Oyo State Government has continued to maintain silence on the terms of any negotiations with the terrorists.

The state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said the government was not ready to discuss the matter when contacted by Saturday PUNCH on Thursday.

He said, “It is unhelpful for us to state our strategy or what is transpiring now. It is unfair to the process; it is equally unfair to the victims and everyone concerned who wants the best possible outcome from this sad situation.

“So, we are not ready to talk because it would be very unhelpful. The important thing is that when people see the outcome, they will be in a better position to judge. It is not for us to tell the public or give a blow-by-blow account of what we are doing, and we apologise for that.”