The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere has cautioned authorities against contemplating demands made by the terrorists who recently abducted students and teachers in Oyo State.
DAILY POST recalls that some dreaded terrorists on May 15, invaded schools ok Ahoro-Esinle, Yawota and Alawusa communities in Oriire Local Government Area and abducted at least 39 pupils and seven teachers.
Initial reports had indicated that the terrorists presented four major demands, including the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, provision of two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related laws in Oyo State.
However, in a viral video, one of the teachers denied the Sharia-related demands, stating that all the abductors are demanding for was the release of detained commanders.
Among those whose release was demanded are Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, alias Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri.
Both terrorists are identified as senior members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fi Biladis Sudan, Ansaru, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram.
They were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, in 2025 following credible intelligence over their nefarious activities in the North East.
However, recent reports indicated that the assailants have now abandoned some of their earlier demands and are now largely concentrating on obtaining ransom payments from the victim’s family members.
In an interview with DAILY POST, the National Publicity of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, warned against yielding to the demands, stating that the “idea of paying ransoms and acceding to sundry other demands of bandits and terrorists should not occurred.
He described it as unfortunate that “we find ourselves in a situation in which criminal elements would be asking us for a negotiation through which they make demands both reasonable and unreasonable.
“In any case, what can be reasonable in the demands that terrorists would make other than ones that would further imperil the society.”
According to him, the issue should not even be what they are asking for but the fact that they could be dictating to us.
“What has bloomed into a monster or an ogre now would not have been in place if those concerned had done the right thing at the right time. That right thing was to clip their wings the moment they reared their heads”, he said.
Ajayi went further to say that acceding to the demands of bandits can severely destabilize communities as it “will encourage further abductions, rewards criminality and will make people lose confidence in the governments and in themselves. It is an ill-wind of an unquantifiable proportion”.
He recalled that the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 “actually frowns at ransom payment”.
“The Act further lays down the framework for detecting, preventing and punishing acts of terrorism, terrorism financing and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
“It is high time that the Act is put into operation with emphasis on apprehending sponsors of terrorism and dealing with them decisively,” he stated.
Meanwhile, DAILY POST gathered the weekend that troops and other personnel carrying out the rescue operation have surrounded a hideout within the National Park forest area where the victims are reportedly being held.
There are also indications that the sustained military offensives against the terrorist groups may soon lead to the rescue of the victims.
