OYO SCHOOL ABDUCTION: SUSPECTS DENY CHARGES AS COURT ARRAIGNS THEM ON AMENDED COUNTS

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By:Aminat Tajudeen

The Department of State Services on Thursday re-arraigned five suspected members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, popularly known as Ansaru, over the alleged abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The defendants — Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, alias Isah Adam/Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar — were re-arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a seven-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026.

The Federal Government, through the DSS, accused the defendants of several terrorism-related offences, including conspiring to abduct about 46 people, facilitating the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers, withholding information about an impending terrorist attack and causing the deaths of two victims.

The victims named in the charge were identified as Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.

In the first count, the prosecution alleged that Muhammad and Abbas instructed the other three defendants, whom it described as their “foot soldiers” in Ansaru, to abduct and kill Nigerians in different parts of the country if they were arrested by the government, allegedly in an attempt to force the government to meet their demands.

The prosecution said the alleged directive resulted in the abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire.

The second count accused Muhammad of committing an act of terrorism between 2025 and 2026 by allegedly causing the death of Deacon John Olaleye through decapitation.

The defendants were also accused of withholding information from law enforcement and security agencies regarding an alleged impending terrorist attack and the planned abduction of the victims.

In another count, the Federal Government alleged that the five defendants conspired with three other suspects — Muhammed Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab — as well as others still at large, to abduct about 46 people, including pupils and teachers, in Oriire.

Umar, Musa and Sani were separately accused of assisting in the alleged abduction, while Muhammad and Abbas were accused of knowingly concealing information about the planned terrorist attack allegedly linked to the May 15, 2026 abduction and deaths of Oyedokun and Olaleye.

The offences were said to contravene various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven amended counts after the charges were read to them.

The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the DSS legal team, subsequently urged the court to commence the trial immediately in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Oyedepo also asked the court to protect the identities of prosecution witnesses by allowing them to testify while wearing masks, citing security concerns.

Defence counsel, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the application.

Justice Salim Ibrahim subsequently granted the prosecution’s request, paving the way for the commencement of the trial.

The court adjourned the matter until Friday, September 18, for continuation of hearing.