JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
The Federal Government has arraigned three suspected terrorists before a Federal High Court in Abuja for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of scores of schoolchildren and teachers from a school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The defendants – Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani – face 10 charges bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of terrorist activities, incitement and illegal mining.
Court documents filed on Friday identify Umar by the pseudonyms Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid, while Musa is also known as Yunusa bin Musa and Sani as Abu Itisar. The three accused are indigenes of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the charge sheet, the suspects allegedly conspired with three others – Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab – between January and May 2026 to organize the kidnapping of students and teachers from schools in Oyo State.
Prosecutors said the alleged conspiracy contravened Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
The government further accused the three of providing active support to the main suspect in carrying out mass kidnapping, an offense punishable under Article 26(2) of the same law.
Also read: FACT CHECK: Old Nigerian army footage used to depict response to bandit ambush
In a separate indictment, the defendants were also accused of withholding vital information from security agencies despite allegedly knowing the identity of the mastermind and details of the kidnapping plan.
Prosecutors alleged that their failure to report the information violated Article 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
Another indictment alleges the three men are members of Darul Salam, which the government describes as an affiliate of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a terrorist organization banned in Nigeria.
The alleged membership is said to have occurred on or about June 2 and constitutes an offense under Section 25(1) of the Terrorism Act.
Three additional charges were filed exclusively against Abdulrazak Umar.
The Federal Government accused Umar of using the WhatsApp platform entitled “Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” to recruit, train and provide ideological instructions to terrorist elements in July.
He was also accused of using sermons delivered via the same WhatsApp group to encourage and incite acts of terrorism, contrary to the provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
In the latest count, Umar was accused of engaging in illegal gold mining activities between 2024 and 2026 in a river located in the Chaza area of Suleja, Niger State, without valid permits, and contrary to the Miscellaneous Offenses Act.
The charges stem from the May 15 attacks on Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and LA Primary School in Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area, where heavily armed men kidnapped a number of pupils and teachers.
Initial official reports indicated that 46 victims – consisting of 39 students and seven teachers – were abducted in the attack.
The incident also claimed two lives. LA Elementary School Assistant Principal, Joel Adesiyan, was reportedly shot dead while trying to escape, while a Mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was allegedly beheaded by the kidnappers during the victim’s 56-day captivity.
The kidnapped students and teachers finally regained their freedom on July 10 following an intelligence-led military operation that targeted the kidnappers’ hideout in Old Oyo National Park.
The Nigerian Army later announced that 44 victims had been rescued alive, while eight suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate were arrested during the operation.
The Presidency also stated that no ransom was paid and no concessions were made to the kidnappers, despite reports that the gang had demanded ₦1 billion and the release of one of its detained commanders as conditions for releasing the victims.
