The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has strongly refuted claims that kidnappers of school children in Oyo State demanded the implementation of Shari’ah law as a condition for their release, describing the allegation as false, misleading, and aimed at tarnishing the image of Islam.
In a statement issued on Monday, June 8, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Islamic human rights organisation said the purported demand was fabricated by “enemies of Islam” to discredit the religion and المسلمين in the South-West.
MURIC expressed concern over reports linking the kidnappers to calls for Shari’ah, insisting that such claims were “a smokescreen” and “a lie from the pit of Jahannam.” The group alleged that individuals within the negotiation process may have inserted the demand to mislead the public and create religious tension.
The organisation maintained that criminal elements such as kidnappers, bandits, and террорист groups do not represent Islam or its teachings, stressing that Nigerian Muslims have no affiliation with such acts of violence.
While dismissing the alleged demand, MURIC reiterated that the call for the establishment of Shari’ah courts in the South-West remains a legitimate and constitutional right of Muslims in the region. It argued that denying this right amounts to a violation of religious freedom as guaranteed under Nigeria’s Constitution.
The group also condemned the abduction of school children and teachers in Oyo State, describing the act as “barbaric, criminal, and totally inconsistent with the teachings of Islam.” It emphasized that those responsible lack the moral authority to speak on behalf of Yoruba Muslims.
MURIC further alleged that the narrative linking kidnappers to Shari’ah demands was part of a broader attempt to discredit long-standing advocacy for Islamic legal institutions in the region.
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The organisation called on Nigerians to reject what it described as a “satanic blackmail” and urged security agencies and the public to focus on addressing the real threat posed by kidnapping and banditry without politicising or religiously framing the crisis.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing the establishment of Shari’ah courts through peaceful, lawful, and democratic means, while urging unity and vigilance against misinformation capable of deepening religious divisions in the country.
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