OYO SCHOOL ABDUCTION: COURT JAILS THREE FOR LIFE
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HOTJIST NEWS
The Federal High Court in Abuja has given three people life in prison for taking pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area in Oyo State.
Justice Salim Ibrahim said the life sentences will start from the day the accused were arrested, according to Media report.
Before the sentence, the defense lawyer asked the court to be kind, saying the defendants were first–time offenders who had already admitted guilt.
The lawyer explained that their admission showed they felt sorry and that the crimes they were found guilty of were not directly connected to the kidnapping.
He further told the court that the convicts were married with children and had elderly parents who depended on them for support.
The defence therefore appealed to the judge to give them “a second chance at life” by imposing a lighter sentence.
The prosecution, however, opposed the plea for leniency, arguing that the convicts were aware of those involved in the criminal operation and, as law-abiding citizens, ought to have reported the information to the relevant authorities instead of concealing it.
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 four and six 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, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the prosecution team, urged the court to sentence the defendants on the counts they admitted.
Before the sentencing, counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court for leniency, describing them as first-time offenders who had shown remorse by pleading guilty.
The defence counsel argued that the charges they admitted were not directly related to the kidnapping itself and appealed to the court to consider their family responsibilities, noting that they were married men with children and had aged parents dependent on them.
He asked the court to give them a second chance.
But the lawyer for the prosecution said the people involved knew about the attack and, as responsible citizens, should have told the security forces.
The federal government claimed the defendants broke the law under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
This law covers things like planning a terrorist act, helping terrorists, hiding terrorist actions, and being part of a banned group.
After listening to both sides, the court found the defendants guilty and sentenced them to life in prison.
On May 15, armed men attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A.
Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota areas of Oriire LGA.They took 46 people, including 39 students and 7 teachers.
Joel Adesiyan, the assistant headmaster at L.A.
Primary School, was killed when he tried to run away during the attack.A math teacher named Michael Oyedokun was also killed by the raiders.
The other victims were freed on July 10 after the military carried out an operation to find and attack the kidnappers‘ hiding places in Old Oyo National Park.
The Nigerian Army said they saved 44 students and teachers, and arrested eight people thought to be part of a gang.
The country‘s leaders also said no money was given as a reward and no demands from the kidnappers were met.
The kidnappers had asked for 1 billion naira and the release of a military officer who was being held.
After the rescue, the government charged the three suspects with 10 different crimes.
These included terrorism, kidnapping, hiding people, encouraging illegal actions, and illegal mining.
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