Bandits behind the kidnapping of students and teachers at Community High School, Ahoro Esiele in Oyo State have made new demands for their release, and some of the conditions have shocked the public.
The kidnappers are reportedly asking for the implementation of Sharia law in Oyo State as part of the deal. Oyo is in Nigeria’s South-West, where the majority of residents do not practice that legal system.
Their demands go further. They want ₦1 billion paid into an account in the Republic of Benin, the release of other bandits held in Agodi and Abolongo prisons, two Hilux vehicles, and amendments to certain Oyo State laws to favour their interests.
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The group has already escalated the threat. According to reports, the bandits beheaded a teacher on live camera, raising fear among families of the remaining captives. Parents and relatives say they are living in anxiety, hoping for a resolution before more harm is done.
Social media reactions suggest many believe the attack is about more than ransom. One user wrote, “Honestly, these guys appear to be targeting Oyo’s mineral-rich land, and it seems they are playing a long-term game.”
The Oyo State government has not announced its next move. What began as a kidnapping case is now seen as a larger security and policy challenge, and the outcome remains uncertain.
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