Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Federal Government has arraigned three suspects arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, filing a 10-count charge that includes terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.
The defendants, Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar, are all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the trio allegedly conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
They were also accused of aiding the abduction and concealing information about the alleged masterminds and the planned operation despite having knowledge of it.
Prosecutors further alleged that the suspects failed to report information that could have led to the arrest of those behind the kidnapping, an action said to contravene provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The charge sheet also alleged that the three men professed membership of Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
Separate counts were filed against Umar, who was accused of providing training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”
He was further accused of using the platform to encourage and incite members to engage in acts of terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism Act and the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
In the final count, Umar was accused of engaging in illegal gold mining at streams in the Chaza area of Suleja between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority.
Specifically, the charges include conspiracy to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers, aiding the kidnapping, concealment of information about the alleged masterminds, concealment of information about the kidnapping plot, membership of a terrorist-affiliated group, provision of training and instructions to terrorists, incitement to commit terrorist acts through a WhatsApp platform, and unlawful mining activities.
A security source said the suspects are expected to appear in court next week following the conclusion of investigations.
The source added that other individuals linked to the case remain under investigation. “Others are still being probed as the Agency is insistent on diligent investigation,” the source said.
