Video: ‘Don’t play politics with our lives,’ abducted Oyo vice‑principal denies kidnappers’ Sharia law demand
Abdullateef Fowewe
The terrorists who attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and abducted about 45 pupils and teachers have released a new video denying that they are asking for Sharia law.
In the footage, the kidnappers who spoke through the abducted vice‑principal, Alamu Folawe said the group’s demands had been wrongly portrayed online.
“They are not asking for Sharia law, they are not asking for weapons, they are not asking for money.
“All they are asking for is the release of some people and negotiation; don’t play politics with our lives,” she said.
It was earlier gathered from a government official that the kidnappers had demanded the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia‑related law before freeing the captives.
The kidnappers reportedly named two detained figures as part of their demands: Mahmud Usman (aka Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar) and Abubakar Abba (aka Isah Adam or Mahmud Al‑Nigeri, also called Mallam Mamuda).
Both men are from northern states—Usman from Okene in Kogi State and Al‑Nigeri from Daura, Katsina State and are alleged leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), a breakaway faction of Boko Haram linked to violent incidents between 2013 and 2015.
The two suspects were arrested between May and July 2025 and are being tried on terrorism charges in the Federal High Court in Abuja in case FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, a suit filed on September 4, 2025.
Their trial opened on January 15, 2026 before Justice Emeka Nwite.
Alamu’s video comes on the 24th day since the abductions, and she warned that the spread of unverified reports is complicating efforts to secure their release.
However, local and federal security agencies are reported to be engaged in response efforts.
Parents and community leaders in Oriire have continued to press government officials for swift action and clearer information about the status of the abducted pupils and staff.
