FG has arraigned three men on terrorism and kidnapping charges over Oyo school abduction.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Federal Government has filed a 10-count terrorism charge against three men over the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, accused Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani of terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of terrorists, incitement, and illegal mining.
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According to the charge sheet, Umar is also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Musa as Yunusa bin Musa, and Sani as Abu Itisar. The three defendants are all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Federal Government alleged that between January and May 2026, the defendants conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab to kidnap pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State, contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The prosecution further accused the trio of aiding and facilitating the kidnapping operation, while also concealing information about the identities of the alleged masterminds and failing to report the planned and executed attack to security agencies.
In another count, the defendants were accused of belonging to Darul Salam, which prosecutors described as an affiliate of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
The government also accused Abdulrazak Umar of providing training and ideological instruction to terrorists through a WhatsApp group allegedly named “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”
According to the charge, Umar used the platform to disseminate extremist teachings and allegedly incite members to commit acts of terrorism, contrary to the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
He is also facing a separate charge of illegal gold mining, with prosecutors alleging that he carried out unlawful mining activities in the Chaza area of Suleja, Niger State, between 2024 and 2026 without the required authorisation.
The charges stem from the May 15, 2026, attack on Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area, where armed men abducted dozens of pupils and teachers.
Initial reports indicated that 46 victims, comprising 39 pupils and seven teachers, were kidnapped during the attack.
The incident claimed the lives of Joel Adesiyan, the assistant headmaster of L.A. Primary School, who was killed while attempting to escape, and Michael Oyedokun, a Mathematics teacher who was reportedly beheaded during captivity.
The victims regained their freedom on July 10 following an intelligence-led military operation that targeted the kidnappers’ hideouts in the Old Oyo National Park.
The Nigerian Army announced that 44 pupils and teachers were rescued during the operation, while eight suspected members of the kidnapping gang were arrested.
The Presidency maintained that no ransom was paid and no concessions were granted to the kidnappers, despite reports that the abductors had demanded N1 billion and the release of one of their detained commanders.
