The Department of State Services has arraigned five suspected members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, popularly known as Ansaru, over the abduction of dozens of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and the alleged killing of two victims.
The suspects, who appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on terrorism, conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and concealment of information.
They are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, alias Isah Adam or Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
According to the DSS, Muhammad and Abbas, identified as senior members of the terrorist group, allegedly directed their followers to embark on kidnappings and killings across the country if they were arrested, with the aim of forcing the government to accede to the group’s demands.
The prosecution alleged that the directive culminated in the May 15, 2026 abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The agency further accused the suspects of being involved in the subsequent killing of two victims, identified as Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.
The DSS also alleged that all five defendants knowingly concealed information capable of preventing the attack but failed to report it to security agencies, contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In addition, Umar, Musa and Sani were accused of conspiring with other alleged Ansaru members, including Muhammed Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, who are said to be at large, to execute the school abduction between January and May 2026 in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, also alleged that the trio aided the execution of the attack and deliberately concealed information relating to the planned terrorist operation.
Following the defendants’ plea, prosecuting counsel, Dr Caliatus Eze, urged the court to remand them in the custody of the DSS pending the commencement of trial.
Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the application and ordered that the defendants remain in the protective custody of the DSS.
The judge, however, directed the security agency to grant the suspects unhindered access to their legal representatives and two members of their immediate families.
He also ordered that they be provided with adequate medical care while in custody.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently adjourned the case until September 25, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The arraignment comes more than two months after the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire, an incident that heightened concerns over the safety of schools and the persistent threat posed by armed groups operating in parts of the country.
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