The Federal Government on Friday arraigned three suspected members of a terrorist network before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the abduction of pupils and teachers from two schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The defendants — Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani — were slammed with a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement to terrorism and illegal mining.
The suspects, all said to be from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, were charged before the Federal High Court following investigations into the May 15 attack on two schools in Oyo State.
According to the charge sheet, Umar is also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Musa as Yunusa bin Musa, while Sani is also known as Abu Itisar.
The Federal Government alleged that between January and May 2026, the three defendants conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab, who are currently at large, to abduct pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State, contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The prosecution further accused the defendants of facilitating the kidnapping and deliberately concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the planned attack.
The offences, according to the charge sheet, contravene Sections 26(1), 26(2) and 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The government also alleged that on or about June 2, 2026, the three defendants professed membership of Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
The alleged offence is said to violate Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
In separate counts, the first defendant, Umar, was accused of providing training and operational instructions to terrorists and using a WhatsApp platform titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” to incite members to commit terrorist acts.
The prosecution said the alleged offences contravened Sections 15 and 2(2)(g) of the Terrorism Act, as well as Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Umar was also accused of engaging in illegal gold mining at streams in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026, an offence said to be contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The arraignment came barely a week after the kidnapped pupils and teachers regained their freedom following weeks in captivity.
The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed bandits attacked Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, both in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The attack resulted in the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers, while a teacher and a commercial motorcyclist were killed during the assault.
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