Oyo Muslim Leaders Reject Kidnappers' Sharia Demand, Urge Safe Return of Students

The Muslim community in Oyo State has strongly condemned the demands made by the kidnappers of the Oriire schoolchildren, describing the call for Sharia law as a "distraction" and an "un-Islamic" attempt to justify criminal acts.

Leaders of the Muslim community in Oyo State have formally rejected the conditions set by the bandits responsible for the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area.

The kidnappers, who are currently holding dozens of victims, reportedly demanded the full implementation of Sharia law in the state as a condition for their release. However, Islamic scholars and leaders across the state have dismissed the demand, stating that kidnapping, extortion, and the terrorizing of innocent citizens are diametrically opposed to the teachings of Islam.

In various statements monitored on Friday, the leaders clarified that Sharia is a system of justice and morality for believers and cannot be "negotiated" or "imposed" through the barrel of a gun by criminal elements.

"Kidnapping is a heinous crime in Islam, and those who perpetrate it cannot claim to be fighting for the faith," one community leader stated. "To demand Sharia while holding innocent children captive is a mockery of the religion. We reject this demand in its entirety and call on the authorities to focus on the safe rescue of the victims."

The Muslim community expressed deep concern over the safety of the pupils and teachers, urging the Oyo State Government and security agencies to ignore the "religious smokescreen" created by the bandits and intensify efforts to track them down.

The rejection comes at a time of heightened anxiety in the state. Schools in the Oriire area have remained closed, and teachers across Oyo State recently embarked on a strike to protest the lack of adequate security for educational institutions.

Religious leaders further called on the kidnappers to release the children unconditionally, reminding them that they will be held accountable both by the law of the land and by the Almighty. They also urged the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with security forces to prevent further security breaches.

The Oyo State Government has yet to officially comment on the kidnappers' specific demands, but security operations are reportedly ongoing in the forests surrounding the Oriire axis.