The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three suspects linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire local government area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.
Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered that the life sentence should take effect from the date of the convicts’ arrest, according to reports. He handed down the sentence after convicting AbdulRazaq Umar (also known as Abu-Khalifa/Abu-Khalid), Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin-Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu-Itisar) on charges connected to terrorism and the kidnapping incident.
The defendants had earlier pleaded ‘guilty’ to some of the allegations brought against them by the Federal Government, while denying others. They were arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
The Federal Government accused the trio of belonging to Darul-Salam, an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi-Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants, all from Suleja local government area of Niger State, conspired with other suspects, including Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, between January and May 2026 to facilitate the abduction of school children and teachers in Oyo State. They were also accused of concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds of the attack despite being aware of the plot.
During proceedings, the defendants admitted to concealing information about those responsible for the school attack and acknowledged their membership of ‘Darul Salam’. While all three pleaded ‘guilty’ to counts-4 & 6 of the charge, only Umar admitted guilt on additional counts bordering on providing training and instructions to members of the group through a WhatsApp platform, titled: “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace”. However, they pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the remaining counts.
Following their ‘guilty’ pleas, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, (SAN), who led the prosecution team, urged the court to sentence the defendants on the counts they admitted.
The Federal Government had alleged that the defendants committed offences contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including sections relating to conspiracy, aiding terrorism, concealment of terrorist activities and membership of a proscribed organisation.
The court, after considering the submissions of both parties, convicted the defendants and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
Recall that on May 15, gunmen invaded Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA, abducting 46 people comprising 39 pupils and seven teachers. The Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was killed while attempting to escape during the raid, while a Mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was killed by his abductors. The remaining victims regained their freedom on July 10 following an intelligence-led military operation targeting the kidnappers’ hideouts in the Old Oyo National Park.
The Nigerian Army announced that 44 pupils and teachers were rescued, while eight suspected gang members were arrested.
