CITIZENS COMPASS—A civil liberties group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused the Oyo State Government of weaponising the Oyo State kidnap saga against Islam and the Muslims of Oyo State.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 9th June, 2026 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC insisted that the controversial demand for the implementation of Shari’ah by the kidnappers as one of the conditions for setting the children free raises more questions than answers.
Furthering, it said:
”The recent so-called demand for Shari’ah by kidnappers in Oyo State has led us to believe that the government of Oyo State under Governor Seyi Makinde is weaponising the ongoing kidnap imbroglio against Muslims in the South West.
”We are led to this conclusion because the whole incident happened within Oyo State which puts the matter under the jurisdiction of the state government. It is therefore assumed that the state government has a major input in the ongoing negotiations.
”We contend that this Oyo kidnap saga is being weaponised to fight Islam and to stigmatize Muslims in the region. To buttress our point, a video clip emerged immediately after the irrational demand surfaced. In the clip, some traditionalists staged a public protest, presumably in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State.
In the video clip, a lady led others to repeat the words, ‘Say no to Islam, Esin apaayan’ (i.e. Say no to Islam, the religion of murderers). Nothing could be more provocative!
But the protest was staged after the fabricated ‘demand for Shari’ah’ by the kidnappers was announced. Meanwhile the kidnappers’ demand, including the frivolous demand for the implementation of Shari’ah were made public through the instrumentality of the state government under the watch of Governor Seyi Makinde.
”We therefore hold Governor Seyi Makinde responsible for inciting people against Muslims. Any unpalatable outcome arising from this must also be attributed to him.
”Furthermore, it will be relatively safe to conclude that the so-called conditions, including that of the implementation of Shari’ah which was reportedly spelt out by the kidnappers could not have reached the public without the knowledge of the state government.
MURIC is therefore constrained to ask the Oyo State government to speak up on whether or not the kidnappers actually demanded the implementation of Shari’ah as a condition for releasing the kidnapped children and their teachers. We task the state government to clarify the issue.
”Apart from the need for clarifications, the mere mention of Shari’ah as part of the demands of the kidnappers raises more questions than answers.
For instance, why would the kidnappers of school children in Oyo State add the implementation of Shari’ah to their demands when the full Shari’ah implementation in the North did not dissuade them from kidnapping the old, the young, the Christian and the Muslim in the region?
”Why did kidnapping go viral in the North which is the home if Islamic law if the latter is attractive to kidnappers? Why would Oyo kidnappers demand Shari’ah when the same Shari’ah did not dissuade or stop kidnapping in the North?
”Who are those negotiating with the kidnappers of Oyo State children? How transparent are they? Are they ready to allow an embedded Islamic scholar in the team for verification of the Shari’ah clause?
”How can a robber demand the presence of armed policemen at the scene of his robbery? Can a rat make it a condition that a huge cat must be on guard where it wants to steal roasted fish? It stands logic on its head.
”Even the Shari’ah brand being practiced in the North is full scale while South West Muslims are demanding a mild form of Shari’ah (civil Shari’ah) which will be used for family matters only. Who are they fooling?
We caution political associates of the former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against picking Governor Seyi Makinde as running mate. Makinde is a sworn enemy of Islam. This has been obvious in his speeches and actions. A liberal Christian from the South is more acceptable to Southern Muslims.
Shari’ah did not stop bandits and Boko Haram from kidnapping in the North, why would it attract Oyo kidnappers as a condition? It doesn’t add up. Those who concocted the Shari’ah demand narrative were too clever by half.
”Whoever injected the Shari’ah dose into the kidnappers’ conditionals has shot himself in the foot.”
