The Federal Government has arraigned three suspects allegedly linked to the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The suspects — Abdulrazak Umar (also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) — were charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
The charges were filed by the Federal Government following their arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) over their alleged involvement in the abduction of pupils and teachers from a school in Oyo State.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants, all residents of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, allegedly conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Orire LGA.
The government accused them of aiding the alleged kidnapping operation and failing to disclose information about the identities and activities of the suspected masterminds despite being aware of the plot.
They were also accused of professing membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
The first defendant, Umar, was separately accused of providing training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” and allegedly inciting members to commit acts of terrorism.
He was also accused of engaging in unlawful gold mining at streams in the Chaza area of Suleja between 2024 and 2026.
The offences were said to contravene provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The Federal Government is expected to present its case before the court as investigations into other suspected links continue.
A security source said the suspects would appear in court next week following the conclusion of preliminary investigations.
“Others are still being investigated as the agency is committed to conducting a diligent investigation,” the source added.
