The Department of State Services (DSS) has announced plans to appeal the life imprisonment handed down to three men convicted over their involvement in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The agency said it was dissatisfied with the verdict, arguing that the sentence was not commensurate with the gravity of the offences committed, including the killing of two teachers by members of the terrorist group linked to the abduction.
Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday sentenced the convicts — Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar — to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences.
The court convicted them for belonging to Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed Ansaru terrorist organisation, concealing information relating to the kidnapping operation, and engaging in activities linked to terrorist indoctrination.
The DSS said it would challenge the judgment, citing the severity of the crimes allegedly committed by the terrorist network involved in the Oyo abduction.
The three men were prosecuted on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, terrorism, concealment of information and other related offences under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the charges, the defendants, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, allegedly withheld information about terrorist activities, aided the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA, and participated in activities linked to terrorist training and mobilisation.
Umar, the first defendant, also pleaded guilty to additional counts bordering on providing instructions to terrorists, inciting members through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace”, and unlawful gold mining.
The court sentenced the three defendants to life imprisonment on Count 6, while Umar received additional life sentences on Counts 7, 9 and 10.
The DSS said it had earlier expressed its intention to appeal the life sentences imposed on two senior Ansaru commanders — Mahmud Muhammad Usman, alias Abu Bara’a, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, alias Mallam Mamuda — who were recently convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The agency maintained that it would continue to pursue legal action against individuals linked to terrorist activities and seek penalties it considers proportionate to the offences committed.
