Crime
School abduction: Oyo Muslims demand for Sharia law as Schools shut in 33LGAs
The Muslim community in Oyo State has condemned the Sharia-related demands reportedly made by terrorists holding teachers and pupils abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, declaring that the criminals do not represent Islam or Muslims.
The position came as public and private schools across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas shut down in solidarity with the abducted victims.
Also, security analysts in separate interviews, offered differing views on how the Federal Government could respond to the terrorists’ demands.
The abductors, who attacked three schools in Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15, reportedly demanded the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law before freeing the captives.
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 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 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.
Gunmen have abducted the All Progressives Congress Chairman of Rogo Local Government Area of Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Fanka, killing two people during the attack.
The incident occurred around 11pm on Monday when the gunmen invaded the community and opened sporadic gunfire, forcing residents to flee their homes.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the two victims were killed while attempting to prevent the gunmen from abducting Fanka.
“The two people killed couldn’t stop them from whisking away the party chairman because they were in possession of sophisticated weapons,” the resident said.
The latest incident occurred barely 24 hours after gunmen attacked Rantan community in Bebeji Local Government Area, killing the APC Chairman of Rantan Ward, Alhaji Garba Buba, and another resident identified as Sulaiman Zunduma.
The Kano State Police Command has launched an investigation into the Rantan attack and commenced efforts to apprehend the perpetrators.
The attacks followed another incident in Chiromawa community in Garun Mallam Local Government Area, where suspected bandits abducted the Sarkin Noman Kano, Alhaji Yusif Nadabo, on Saturday night.
Nadabo was later rescued by the police following a joint response by security operatives and residents. Three residents were reportedly injured during the operation.
The three incidents occurred in neighbouring parts of Kano State within about 72 hours, heightening concerns over the spread of kidnapping and armed attacks across the state.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, had on Monday announced that the Federal Government was developing a five-year defence and security plan in response to recent security challenges, including the attacks in Kano.
As of the time of filing the report, attempts to obtain an update from the Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, were unsuccessful. Calls to his telephone were unanswered, while a WhatsApp message sent to him had not received a response.
The Nigerian military has confirmed the rescue of 21 kidnapped victims, including 15 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in Kogi State.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this on Monday while giving an update on military operations across the country.
Onoja said the victims, comprising eight males and 13 females, were rescued from the Egume-Ochaja forest stretch in the 2 Division area of operation.
He said 15 of the rescued victims were NYSC members who were among those abducted last week while travelling from Abuja to Bayelsa State.
The director said the military had also sustained operations against terrorists and criminal elements, particularly in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, following recent abductions in the area.
He said troops were collaborating with other security agencies and state government institutions through intelligence sharing and identification of areas requiring security intervention.
Onoja cited the rescue of 308 abducted persons, predominantly women and children, from Kainji Lake National Park on Aug. 5 as evidence of the security forces’ capacity to locate and rescue victims.
He assured residents of Borgu and neighbouring communities that military operations would continue until threats posed by terrorists and criminals were sufficiently degraded.
The general urged families of abducted persons to remain calm and avoid actions that could compromise ongoing rescue operations, stressing that credible information remained vital to the efforts of the security agencies.
He said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, remained committed to rescuing abducted persons, protecting civilians and facilitating the return of internally displaced persons to their communities.
Giving an account of military operations in August, Onoja said troops neutralised more than 332 terrorists and criminals, arrested 373 others and rescued 610 kidnapped victims.
He added that 201 terrorists surrendered to the troops, while 88 arms and 2,077 rounds of ammunition were recovered during the month.
The military, according to him, also recovered 686,800 litres of stolen crude oil products and destroyed 21 illegal refining sites as part of efforts to tackle oil theft and economic sabotage.
Onoja attributed the operational gains to intensified kinetic and non-kinetic operations, improved intelligence gathering and enhanced collaboration among security agencies.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that more than 40 personnel of the commission have been dismissed over alleged corruption and financial misconduct in the last three years.
Olukoyede made the disclosure in Abuja during a media interaction to mark his third year in office as EFCC chairman.
He also revealed that about five other officials were currently facing prosecution for alleged corrupt practices, while case files involving some others were being prepared for prosecution.
According to him, the disciplinary measures were part of efforts to ensure that EFCC personnel are held to the same accountability standards the commission applies to members of the public investigated for financial crimes.
Olukoyede stressed that officers fighting corruption must maintain personal integrity and remain above reproach.
“You must be sure that your hands are clean. You can’t be fighting corruption when your hands are soiled with corrupt practices,” he said.
Three persons were reportedly shot dead in separate incidents in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Sunday, in attacks suspected to have been carried out by cultists.
The first incident occurred in the densely populated Amaenyi area of Awka, where two men were reportedly shot dead.
The attack triggered panic and a stampede, during which several people were said to have sustained injuries.
The second incident occurred on SM Okeke Street, where a popular comedian and town crier in Awka, Mr Aiza Nwosu, was shot dead by suspected cultists.
Sources said Nwosu was allegedly monitored and trailed by his assailants from his residence before they attacked him.
Nwosu was well known in Awka as a comedian and town crier. He usually carried out his duties with a Hilux truck fitted with loudspeakers, driving around the city while playing loud music and making public announcements.
According to reports by Daily Post, Nwosu was driving along SM Okeke Street with his music blaring when the assailants, who were reportedly trailing him in a Toyota Corolla with tinted windows, opened fire on him.
He reportedly died inside his vehicle while the music continued to play. The vehicle subsequently veered off the road and landed in a ditch, suggesting that he may have been caught completely unaware by the attack.
While residents who knew Nwosu described him as having no history of cult membership, some sources alleged that his son was a known member of the Vikings Confraternity.
Awka has for years been associated with violent clashes involving rival cult groups, with several lives reportedly lost in such confrontations.
The latest incidents have raised fears of a possible resurgence of cult-related violence in the city.
As of the time of filing this report, the Anambra State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the killings.
Residents have called for increased security surveillance and swift investigation to prevent further violence and identify those responsible for the attacks.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Anambra Joint Task Force on Security has arrested nine suspected gunmen and recovered two vehicles, three firearms and other items during a stop-and-search operation in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The suspects, comprising seven males and two females, were arrested in the early hours of Friday, August 28, 2026, when security operatives intercepted two vehicles at a checkpoint in the community.
The operation was led by the Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Austin Elaigwu, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service and operatives of the Agunechemba Security Outfit.
The vehicles, a custom-coloured Toyota Sienna and an ash-coloured Toyota RAV4, were subjected to a thorough search following their interception.
Security operatives subsequently recovered three AK-47 rifles, one pump-action gun, charms and other items considered relevant to the ongoing investigation.
The suspects and the recovered items were immediately taken into custody for questioning and further investigation.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspects reportedly claimed to be security operatives based in a neighbouring state.
However, they allegedly failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding their identities, affiliations, possession of the firearms and the purpose of their movement into Anambra State.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, psc, mnips, commended the operatives for the successful operation.
He urged them to remain vigilant, noting that the recovery was the result of intelligence-led policing and effective stop-and-search operations.
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