FG Arraigns Three Suspects Over Abduction of Oyo Schoolchildren, Teachers

FG Arraigns Three Suspects Over Abduction of Oyo Schoolchildren, Teachers

The Federal Government has arraigned three suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The defendants, who were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), are facing a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement to terrorism and illegal mining. The defendants were identified as Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar. All three are natives of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to the charge sheet, the three defendants allegedly conspired with three other suspects identified as Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA, Oyo State. The alleged conspiracy is said to have violated Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The Federal Government also accused the defendants of aiding the execution of the abduction and deliberately concealing information regarding the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot. The offences, according to the prosecution, contravene Sections 26(2) and 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In one of the charges, the Federal Government alleged that on or about June 2, 2026, the defendants professed membership of Darul Salam, an organisation described as an affiliate of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, popularly known as Ansaru, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria. The alleged offence is said to be contrary to Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. The prosecution further alleged that the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, played a more active role in the activities of the terrorist group. According to the charge, Umar allegedly provided training and operational instructions to terrorists and incited members to commit acts of terrorism through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace”. The alleged offences are said to contravene Sections 15 and 2(2)(g) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, as well as Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

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Apart from the terrorism-related charges, the Federal Government also accused Umar of engaging in illegal mining activities. The prosecution alleged that between 2024 and 2026, he unlawfully mined gold at streams located in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

The charges follow the abduction of pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026. Armed bandits invaded Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, abducting 39 pupils and seven teachers in one of the most shocking school attacks recorded in Oyo State. The attack also claimed the lives of a teacher and a commercial motorcyclist. One of the teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded in captivity.

The captives regained their freedom after 56 days in captivity on July 10, 2026, following a coordinated operation involving the military, the DSS and other security agencies. Security operatives advanced into the forest from multiple directions, engaging suspected kidnappers in a series of encounters that led to the rescue of all surviving hostages. According to security sources, the arrest of wives and children of the kidnappers proved to be a decisive turning point in the rescue operation. The family members were interrogated, and video recordings of the interrogations were leaked to the kidnappers, which reportedly unsettled them and forced them to abandon some of their earlier hardline demands. The kidnappers proposed releasing the captives in exchange for the freedom of their wives, a proposal that security agencies rejected. The final assault was ordered after fresh intelligence confirmed that the abducted schoolchildren and teachers were no longer being used as human shields. During the operation, several terrorists were killed, while eight others were arrested.

According to security sources, the suspects are expected to appear in court next week following the conclusion of investigations. The source added that investigations are still ongoing into the activities of other suspects linked to the case, stressing that the agency is committed to carrying out a thorough and diligent probe.