The Muslim Community of Oyo State has rejected attempts by kidnappers to justify their criminal activities with references to Sharia law, insisting that terrorists and abductors neither represent Islam nor speak on behalf of Muslims.
The group described the reported Sharia-related demands made by abductors of schoolchildren as a gross distortion of Islamic teachings, stressing that Islam promotes justice, peace, and the sanctity of human life.
It maintained that the principles of Sharia are fundamentally incompatible with kidnapping, terrorism, and other forms of criminal violence, condemning efforts to use religion as a cover for unlawful acts against innocent citizens.
In a statement jointly signed on Friday by the Chairman of the Muslim Community of Oyo State, Ishaq Sanni, and the Secretary-General, Murisiku Siyanbade, the leadership of the Muslim Ummah in the state stressed that Islam unequivocally prohibits kidnapping, terrorism, and the extortion of innocent people.
According to the statement, “The Muslim Community of Oyo State strongly condemns the recent Sharia-related demands made by abductors, declaring that terrorists do not represent Islamic values and cannot speak for Muslims.”
The community further stated that criminals cannot invoke religion to legitimise unlawful actions, noting that such acts run contrary to the core teachings and values of Islam.
The Muslim Community of Oyo State also reaffirmed its support for security agencies and urged authorities to intensify efforts to apprehend those behind the abductions.
It further called on Muslims and other residents of the state to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and reject attempts to misrepresent the peaceful teachings of Islam.