As of today, there is no verifiable info regarding the bandits' demands beyond what Oyo Speaker publicly stated, and he did not mention #Sharia. Those who reported a Sharia demand have a duty to tell Nigerians where they got that information. Otherwise, it amounts to fake news.
FACT CHECK: Did Oyo school abductors really demand Sharia law?
* Tracing the origin of a viral claim linking bandits' demands to Sharia
By Rasheed Abubakar, Publisher, Muslim News Nigeria @muslimnews_NG
The Nigerian social media space has been awash with claims that the bandits (terrorists) who abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State demanded the implementation of Shari'ah law as one of the conditions for the release of their victims.
The claim quickly generated widespread controversy, not only because of the gravity of the abduction itself, but also because it emerged at a time when discussions around the establishment of Sharia Courts of Appeal in parts of Southwest Nigeria have become increasingly prominent.
For years, Muslim groups and organisations in the region have advocated for the implementation of Sharia Courts of Appeal in accordance with provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, arguing that Muslims in the Southwest deserve the same constitutional rights already enjoyed by their counterparts in several northern states.
Against this backdrop, reports suggesting that bandits (terrorists) demanded Sharia law immediately attracted public attention and fueled heated debates.
The controversy was further amplified by a longstanding narrative that seeks to associate banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism with Islam despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of victims of such crimes, including Muslims themselves, have suffered at the hands of these criminal groups.
Bandits (terrorists) have attacked Muslim communities, kidnapped Muslim scholars, abducted Muslim schoolchildren, and killed countless Muslims across the country. Yet the islamophobes frequently describe them as representatives of Islam even when their actions directly contradict core Islamic teachings on justice, protection of innocent lives, and respect for human dignity.
As a result, many observers viewed the alleged demand for Sharia law as another attempt to link the activities of criminal gangs to Islam, the religion of peace ordained by Allah for mankind.
The claim was widely condemned across religious and political divides.
Notably, the Oyo Muslim community under the leadership of Alhaji Kunle Sanni on Friday, June 5, quickly distanced itself from the alleged demand, insisting that terrorists do not represent Islam and have no authority to speak on behalf of Muslims or Islamic law.
However, one crucial question remains:
*Did the abductors actually demand the implementation of Sharia law?*
The origin of the claim:
Muslim News Nigeria reviewed reports published by mainstream media organisations, online news platforms, social media discussions, and publicly available video recordings relating to the incident, starting from Thursday, June 4.
A clear pattern emerged.
Virtually all reports claiming that the abductors demanded Sharia law attributed the information, directly or indirectly, to remarks allegedly made by the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, during a legislative plenary.
Several reports stated that the kidnappers demanded a huge ransom, some quoting ₦1 billion, as well as the implementation of Shari’ah law in Oyo State, among other conditions.
However, many of those reports relied on phrases such as "sources said", "it was gathered", "reports say", or summaries attributed to the Speaker rather than direct quotations.
The next logical step was to verify exactly what the Speaker said.
*What did the Speaker say?*
The one minute, three seconds video recording of the plenary session in which Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin addressed the matter remains publicly available online.
The video opens with the Speaker saying:
Drink from clay.
Clay is porous. It cools water through evaporation, filters impurities, and releases calcium, magnesium, and potassium into every sip. The same material your ancestors stored water in is now being studied by modern scientists for what it does that refrigerators cannot.
Cook in cast iron.
Cast iron holds heat longer than any modern pan, distributes it evenly, and adds small amounts of dietary iron to your food as it cooks. A pan your grandmother used is still the most efficient tool in the kitchen.
Eat from wood.
Wood does not leach chemicals. It does not retain bacteria the way plastic does. It is antibacterial by nature, gentle on food, and has been the material of choice across every culture on earth for thousands of years.
Store in woven material.
Bamboo and rattan regulate airflow. They prevent moisture buildup. Your food breathes inside them instead of rotting.
These are not trends. These are technologies that were working long before plastic was invented.
The modern kitchen replaced performance with convenience. It is time to reverse that.
OFFICIAL PRESS STATEMENT
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
It is with a heavy heart but an unwavering faith in Almighty Allah (SWT) that I address our immediate community of Oyo State, and the global public.
BBC YORUBA called to hear my academic story. It didn't feel real until the cameras started rolling. Within 48 hours, I began receiving calls and support from across the globe. Some even requested video calls with my parents and generously offered assistance.
A proof that God can turn a story into a testimony overnight.
https://t.co/vofk3ml0eD
https://t.co/EwZEhn9Oqt
What he is quoting and teaching is from the Sharia. That’s the law. I swear by the Almighty who created me, if the sections of the Sharia on capital punishment are borrowed by the government to tackle banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency, in 6 months, it will be a thing of the past. Nobody will dare call himself a bandit, identify with a kidnapper, not to mention kidnapping somebody for ransom. But when we are ready as a nation, we will do the right thing.
May the Almighty preserve Dr. Lafiaji in goodness.
Hello Ezinne,
There are so many ways Sharia protects and benefits you. And ignore naysayers who are quick to say "but they practice Sharia in the north?" What they are practicing isn't Sharia. It's purely political.
It's only a matter of time before those whom they have used that to control will find out the truth.
The one I am talking about is the divine laws of Islam, and here are some of the few ways it protects a woman.
First of all, it is vital to understand how Sharia treats non-Muslim citizens (Dhimmi). Under true Sharia, non-Muslims are not subjected to Islamic personal laws regarding marriage, divorce, or inheritance. They are granted full judicial autonomy.
If a Christian woman has a family dispute, she goes to her own ecclesiastical (church) courts, not a Sharia court. What Sharia guarantees her as a citizen is Aman (absolute state security). The state is legally obligated to protect her life, her property, and her freedom to worship.
And listen, it’s forbidden for any Muslim to harass you not to talk of kill you. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever hurts a non-Muslim citizen under our protection, I am his adversary on the Day of Judgment."
Secondly, there is financial autonomy for you.
Under authentic Sharia, a woman’s money is strictly and legally her own. When she marries, she receives Mahr (a mandatory bridal gift) directly into her hands. Her husband, her parents, or his family have zero legal right to touch a single penny of it.
Here is the kicker that modern secular laws still haven't caught up with: if a married woman runs a business, works a high-paying job, or inherits millions, she is under zero legal or religious obligation to spend a dime of her wealth on the household.
The financial burden of paying rent, buying food, clothing the family, and providing healthcare falls 100% on the husband, regardless of how wealthy the wife is.
Now, to show how compatible this law is with human nature, Islam absolutely encourages a woman to support her husband out of love, kindness, and partnership, especially when necessity arises or times get tough.
But the beautiful thing is, she is never compelled to do so. If she decides to assist him financially, it is legally recorded as an act of voluntary charity (Sadaqah) from her to him, not an obligation. He cannot force her.
Again, there is radical protection of your dignity and character. Sharia law treats a woman’s reputation with extreme gravity.
In our jurisprudence, if anyone falsely accuses a woman of unchastity or attacks her character without producing four airtight eyewitnesses, the accuser faces the mandatory corporal punishment of Qadhf (80 lashes) and their testimony is legally banned for life. It completely eliminates the culture of casual slander against women.
There are many other protections, but let me stop here. If you have any questions or bias, let me know, I am willing to provide deep answers.
Allah knows best.
An Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University student just proved Nigerian innovation belongs on the world stage.
Mohammed Habib Hussein, a Computer and Communication Engineering student at ATBU Bauchi, has designed the NHED Glove, a wearable device that instantly translates sign language gestures into spoken words.
What makes it wild? Hussein built it 100% from scratch. No imported kits. He handcrafted the pressure sensors, programmed the microcontroller, and assembled everything using locally available parts.
The glove tracks finger movements through integrated sensors → feeds data to a microcontroller → triggers audio files on an SD card → broadcasts through an onboard speaker. Simple phrases like “How are you now?” now have a voice.
Hussein says he was inspired by the daily isolation and high cost of interpreters faced by speech-impaired Nigerians. His goal: restore independence, restore dignity, and bridge communication gaps without breaking the bank.
From OAU’s Betty with the 1.68→4.04 comeback, to ATBU’s Hussein giving voice to the voiceless... Nigerian students are not playing.
Moral of the story: Innovation isn’t waiting for government or funding. It’s starting in our labs with what we have.
After allocating rooms for others for years, he has finally found his roommate for life.
Ismail found Basheeroh… and the world lit up with a radiant BashfulSmail😊
May ALlah bless their union, grant them tranquility in their home, & shower their marriage with endless barakah.
@Haakien@YusufAsunmogejo@DanBurmawy Let me clear this for you sir.
The holy Qur'an is not what you can use your brain to weave. You need to learn and understand it.
The first revealed chapter of the Qur'an is Surah Al-Alaq (Chapter 96). So, what happened to the chapters before 96.
Kindly find another analogy pls.
Dear @DanBurmawy,
I made a promise I won’t go hard on anybody today because apparently today is our Eid Celebration. But, Burmawi won’t let me.
Your entire argument is a classic display of profound historical and textual ignorance, built on a desperate attempt to sound deep while completely misrepresenting both the Bible and the historical record.
You call the Islamic position theological vandalism. Really? Funnily, you do not even realize you are defending a text that biblical scholars themselves have flagged for centuries as a compromised, heavily edited document.
First of all, let me start with the unforgivable textual contradiction in Genesis 22:2, where your text says, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac."
Burmawi, anyone with a basic sense of logic can see the glitch here. Isaac was never, at any point in his life, Abraham’s only son. Ishmael was born fourteen years before Isaac. The only time Abraham ever had an "only son" was before Isaac was even born, when Ishmael was his single child.
This is not even an Islamic argument; this is standard, objective biblical scholarship.
Top Western theologians and textual critics, such as Dr. T.C. Mitchell (former Keeper of Western Asiatic Antiquities at the British Museum) and the renowned biblical scholar Dr. Robert Alter, have written extensively on how the Hebrew word Yachid (only/unique) in this text is completely irreconcilable with Isaac's historical position.
The text explicitly demands a firstborn who was an only child for a period, which historically fits nobody but Ishmael.
What you are reading is a clear case of later scribal interpolation, where later writers crossed out Ishmael's name and inserted Isaac to serve a nationalistic, tribal narrative.
Unfortunately for them, they completely forgot to fix the "only son" blunder they left in the verse. lol 😂
Again, your attempt to reduce Ishmael to a mistake of "human performance" completely exposes your ignorance of the Old Testament itself.
In Genesis 16:11, it is the Angel of the Lord who commands Hagar to name the child Ishmael, which means "God hears." God does not name mistakes.
Also, in Genesis 17:20, God explicitly says, "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation."
Dr. John Van Seters, a biblical historian noted here that the promises of greatness and covenant blessings given to Ishmael in the text run completely parallel to those given to Isaac. Therefore, calling Ishmael a product of mere human scheming is a direct contradiction of the very scripture you are trying to preach from.
Let me also say that your reliance on Paul’s allegory in Galatians 4 to frame Ishmael as "the law and bondage" is a big chronological leap.
Paul was simply writing an ideological polemic in the first century to convince a Roman-era audience to abandon Jewish legalism.
So, using a first-century rhetorical allegory to rewrite a historical event that happened two thousand years before is not scholarship; it is a desperate theological spin, and that shows how ignorant and mischievous you are.
Burmawi, note this: The Islamic narrative did not hijack or distort anything. Okay? It simply restored the story to its logical, geographical, and historical truth.
Abraham was asked to sacrifice his firstborn, the child of his lonely old age, in absolute submission. You exchanged the historical firstborn for a younger son to fit your tribal exclusivity. Then you wrapped it in flowery language about “grace” versus “works” to hide the factual error.
Next time you want to accuse an entire civilization of theological vandalism, try reading your own book with the lights on first.
I hope this clears your mischief.
Allah knows best.
Expose 2.0: How Isaac Was Smuggled into Genesis 22:2
I know they are going to run their mouth in the CS 😂. No matter the truth, they will deny it. Their forefathers knew the truth like they knew their children, unfortunately, they denied the truth.
So I am not surprised. Mind you, none of them have been able to take me up. It’s just ranting as usual. No knowledge. No substance.
Let’s get into it.
The ultimate proof that the story was edited to serve a localized Judean political agenda is the absolute failure of its geography.
In Genesis 22:2, God tells Abraham to go to the "land of Moriah" to perform the sacrifice. Judean scribes later claimed that Mount Moriah was the exact hill in Jerusalem where King Solomon built his temple, with the aim to validate Jerusalem as the sole holy site for all humanity.
However, historic textual variants completely shatter this claim. Why do I say so?
The Samaritan Pentateuch, which is an independent and ancient version of the Torah preserved by the Samaritans (who split from the mainstream Jews thousands of years ago), preserved completely different readings. In their ancient texts, the place of sacrifice is “Moreh” which is connected to Mount Gerizim, not Jerusalem. They are completely two different places.
The reason I established this is to prove that even the Bible's own ancient versions do not agree on where this happened. The Jewish scribes in Jerusalem pushed the "Moriah" (Jerusalem) narrative to make their Temple the center of the world, while the Samaritans pushed "Moreh" linked to Gezerim, to make their mountain the center. This confirms the text was being used as a political football.
In fact, the geographical descriptions in the text itself prove that Abraham could not have been traveling to Jerusalem. The Bible says Abraham saw the place "from afar" on the third day of his journey from Beersheba (Genesis 22:4).
Topographers and biblical geographers have pointed out that you CANNOT see the hills of Jerusalem from afar if they were going to Jerusalem from Beersheba.
Also, you CANNOT see the specific peak of the Temple Mount from a long distance away. You only see it once you have already finished the climb and are basically standing in the city.
Funnily 😂, Mount Gerizim and Jerusalem are both relatively close to Beersheba. You do not need a grueling three-day trek to see them "from afar" in the way the text describes it as a remote, high-stakes journey into the wilderness.
In fact, For a group traveling with donkeys and servants, a three-day journey to cover only 50–80 miles is not a "grueling trek"; it is a very slow walk. If the sacrifice was as urgent and high-stakes as the text claims, they would have been there much sooner.
This shows that the corrupters took a story that originally involved a long, three-day journey into the deep desert (Paran/Makkah) where you can see mountain peaks from miles away, and they tried to "smuggle" it into Jerusalem.
They kept the "three days" and the "seeing from afar" from the original Ishmael story, but they placed it in a location (Jerusalem) that is too close for a three-day trip and too hilly to see anything from afar.
So Where Exactly?
SubhaanaLlah
Over ten thousand people across Africa.
Oh ALlah, let us be able to identify what's right, and grant us the provision to follow and embrace it. Also, let us be able to identify what's wrong, and grant us the provision to refrain from it. Aameen.
I am afraid this might get worse 😓😓. If you look closely at the Tafseer of Abdullah Ibn Abbas on Surah Nuh, he explicitly detailed that this is the exact mechanism through which idolatry crept into humanity in the first place.
It always starts with people wanting to preserve the memory of righteous men out of pure respect and love, completely free from any bad intentions.
Those who originally buried the Sheik inside the house could never have envisaged this current reality, especially considering the high level of piety and deep understanding of the religion that the people possessed at that specific point in history.
Unfortunately, today, that protection no longer holds. The generation that understood the boundaries has passed, and we are left with people who lack that foundational clarity.
I’m afraid if care is not taken and these practices are left unchecked, this location is on a direct path to becoming a full blown shrine over the next hundred years.
The historical warning signs are right in front of us, and ignoring them out of sentiment is how the core message of the reform itself gets entirely erased.
Allah knows best.
We really need to act now!!!
Not tomorrow, not later...
Change begins with me and you, let's contribute to our society in every way we can.
Nigeria is bleeding
This is a proof of leadership failure. How Nigeria degenerated to this stage where banditry and kidnapping became a profitable industry needs to be studied. We don’t hear stories like these in the past. How come?
The monsters whom past leaders failed to empower have now found empowerment in kidnapping.
As a people, this is a sign that security is not for the government alone. At least, they have shown us overtime that they are not capable.
We cannot feign “e-no-concern me” attitude again. These monsters are young children whom our leaders left uneducated, jobless, and completely abandoned.
Let’s start supporting our communities.
Community development and our support for underrepresented students is now much important than ever before. Let’s tame the current ones before they grow up to become kidnappers and bandits.
Awolowo’s postulation is now manifesting in Nigeria. We must act NOW!