The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday re-arraigned five suspected members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, also 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, aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, aka Isah Adam/Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar—were 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 terrorism-related offences, including conspiring to abduct about 46 people, aiding the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers, withholding information about an imminent terrorist attack, and causing the deaths of two victims.
The victims identified in the charge were Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.
In count one, the prosecution alleged that Muhammad and Abbas directed the other three defendants, described as their “foot soldiers” in Ansaru, “to kidnap and kill innocent Nigerians (Victims) in different parts of Nigeria in the event of your arrest by the Nigerian government, to compel the government to accede to your demands.”
According to the charge, the alleged directive led to the abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire.
Count two states: “That you… sometime between 2025 and 2026 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an act of terrorism when you caused the death of Deacon John Olaleye, by decapitating him. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2 (3) (g) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 24(2) of the same Act.”
The defendants were also accused of failing to disclose information about an imminent terrorist act and the planned abduction to law enforcement and security agencies.
In count five, the Federal Government alleged that the defendants conspired with three other suspects—Muhammed Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab—and others still at large to abduct about 46 people, including schoolchildren and teachers, in Oriire.
Umar, Musa and Sani were separately accused of aiding the alleged abduction, while Muhammad and Abbas were accused in count seven of knowingly concealing information about the planned terrorist attack that allegedly resulted in the May 15, 2026 abduction and deaths of Oyedokun and Olaleye.
The charges were brought under various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven counts after the charges were read to them by the court registrar.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the DSS legal team, subsequently applied for the immediate commencement of the trial, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Oyedepo also asked the court to protect the identities of prosecution witnesses and permit them to testify while wearing masks, citing security concerns.
Counsel for the defendants, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the application.
Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the prosecution’s requests, after which the court commenced arrangements for the full-scale trial.
The case was adjourned until Friday, September 18, for continuation of hearing.
