Kidnappers who abducted teachers and pupils from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have issued four demands for the release of their victims. The terrorists stormed schools in Esinele, Yawota, and Alawusa communities on May 15.
On May 17, the abductors released a video showing the beheading of one of the abducted teachers, Mr. Michael Oladokun, a mathematics teacher at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele. Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed the killing on Monday, May 18, describing it as deeply painful.
Four Demands Made by Abductors
The terrorists are now demanding the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles, and the implementation of Sharia-related law, according to Saturday Punch reports.
Release of Terror Commanders
The two commanders the terrorists want released 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. They are leaders of Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS), also known as Ansaru, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram. They are alleged to have aided and abetted acts of terrorism between 2013 and 2015 and are linked to the 2022 Kuje prison break.
The commanders 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. Their trial commenced on January 15, 2026. Usman was sentenced to 15 years in prison 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. His deputy, Abba, pleaded not guilty to all 32 counts and is also standing trial.
Ransom and Other Demands
The kidnappers are reportedly demanding a ransom of N1 billion to be paid into a bank account in the Republic of Benin, though this claim could not be independently verified. Security analysts have warned that releasing the commanders would pose serious risks to national security.
