The terrorists who kidnapped teachers and pupils from three different schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have made four demands in order to release their victims.
On May 15, the terrorists stormed schools in Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities.
On May 17, the terrorists released a video of one of the abducted teachers, Mr Michael Oladokun, being beheaded. He was a mathematics teacher at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele.
Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed the killing on Monday, May 18, describing it as deeply painful.
The terrorists have now made four demands before they will release the rest of the victims. They are reportedly asking for the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law, Saturday Punch reports.
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.
The two are leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan, JAMBS, also known as Ansaru — a breakaway faction of Boko Haram — and are alleged to have aided and abetted acts of terrorism in the country between 2013 and 2015. They are also linked to the 2022 Kuje prison break.
They 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, with their trial commencing on January 15, 2026.
Usman was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, 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 on those charges.
His deputy, Abba, pleaded not guilty to all 32 counts and is also standing trial before the same court.
As for the ransom, the terrorists are reportedly demanding ₦1bn, to be paid into a bank account in the Republic of Benin, though this claim could not be independently verified, the publication reports.
Security analysts have warned that releasing the commanders would pose serious risks to national security.
