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:
Christianity isn't blamed when when some persons commit atrocities claiming to be Christians; So why is the insecurity crisis (in Nigeria) being pinned on Islam?
They wore the uniform and committed the very crimes they promised to prevent.
This is difficult to say, but it needs to be said clearly and openly.
Some officers of the Nigeria Police Force have been caught running criminal groups in Rivers State. They abducted people during fake patrols, forced access to victims' bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, extorted millions, kidnapped, and committed armed robbery.
They did this in uniform, using police vehicles, and targeted the very people they were meant to protect. The Nigeria Police Force, led by IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc (+), NPM, will not ignore these actions.
Syndicate One, Zone 16, Yenagoa: Inspector Ayanniyi Jelili, Inspector Durojaye Francis, and Inspector Olayemi Titus have been arrested. Three accomplices are still at large and are being actively pursued. Police recovered three Toyota Sienna buses and ₦7,338,800 linked to these crimes.
Syndicate Two, Rivers State Command: Inspector John Okoi, Inspector Eyibo Asuquo, Inspector Udo Ndipmong, Inspector Bright Nwachukwu, and Inspector Anele Ikechukwu have been dismissed. Their case has been sent for prosecution.
The charges include conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and official corruption.
This is a real and necessary internal cleansing. It is painful, but no rank will protect a criminal in this Force.
If you have suffered because of bad officers, please report it. Your voice helps ensure accountability.
You were named RASHEEDAH(Righteous) you turned it to SHEEDDAH ( difficulty)
You were named HALEEMAH(gentle) you turned it to LEEMAH( wig)
You were named FAREEDAH(unique) you turned it to REEDAH( apostasy)
You were named FATEEMAH(abstinence) you turned it to TEEMAH( catastrophe)
You were named MANSURAH(victorious) you turned it to SURAH( photo)
You were named LATEEFAH(kind) you turned it to TEEFAH( ghost)
You were named BASEERAH, you turned it to SEERAH( History)
You were named SAKEENAH(Tranquility) you turned it to KEENAH( betrayal)
Astaghfirullah
The list is endless...... All in the name of fashion and civilization, before you short your name, know the meaning.
The reason why that Palestine isn’t being seen anymore is that because Israel has killed Palestinians journalists. 56 Palestinian journalists have been killed. Russia killed 27 in Ukraine. Sudan received drone attacks. Lebanon is getting bombed. Don’t stop talking.
Everyone felt sad for the penguin walking alone and the monkey rejected by his mother. But this video is far more heartbreaking, yet it didn’t receive the same attention.
FCCPC Seals Paradise Estate, Abuja
Consumer protection is not limited to everyday retail purchases. It also applies to major financial commitments such as housing, where many Nigerians invest life savings based on promises made by developers.
Following complaints received and reviewed concerning Paradise Estate, Abuja, including allegations that some buyers completed payment but have not received the homes promised to them, FCCPC has initiated regulatory action in line with its statutory mandate.
The Commission maintains that businesses must not make promises they cannot fulfil. Where payment has been received, agreed timelines must be honoured, delays properly explained, and lawful remedies provided where obligations are unmet.
Confidence in housing markets depends on transparency, honest communication, proper records, and delivery in line with commitments.
Affected consumers may submit relevant documents, evidence of payment and correspondence through https://t.co/eNpbLLMsZ0.
@NigeriaGov@NGRSenate@HouseNGR
You see There are a lot of islamophobes in Nigeria.
Sometime ago, my wife wanted to take passport in Abuja immigration center and they stupidly told her to remove her Hijab, na there wahala starts and they started saying nonsense about identification.
Same passport capturing she took in Nigeria consulate in jeddah without any altercation and fight.
I have seen sudanese passports, saudi passport, UK passports US passports with women adoring Hijabs.
Infact their ears are not even bulging out, and they have been travelling round the world with it.
Yet the Islamophobes in Nigeria, once they are given any opportunity they want to use it to oppress and deprive Muslim women.
If any immigration officer ask you to remove your Hijab during capturing do not agree, if they deprive you, sue them and make good money from them.
They use opportunity to oppress the females whom they feel are not outspoken.
Them nor born you well to oppress me in my own country when you are not more Nigerian than me.
Meanwhile NIS has made clarification on Hijabs usage during capturing as stated on their website.
So if any of them act against the law, he will be strip off his job. - Dr Biem
UTME 2026: Harassment, discrimination against Muslim students over hijab persist at Nigeria exam centres
* Perpetrators remain unpunished despite Supreme Court ruling, rights groups say
* Previous exams cycles also marked by hijab restrictions in Nigeria https://t.co/vNCMzKCPFL
sudans genocide has now entered its fourth year, every 27 minutes someone in sudan is murdered. Women are being raped children are being starved how much longer will you look away
There is now overwhelming evidence of the use of dogs to rape Palestinian inmates in Israeli prisons - first reported in our Oct 2024 Al Jazeera Investigative Unit film GAZA. /1