The Federal Government has arraigned three men before the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged roles in the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, alongside other offences. The defendants, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, all from Suleja, Niger State, were docked on a 10-count charge.
According to the prosecution, the trio allegedly conspired with three other suspects identified as Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to abduct schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, and further aided the operation.
Court documents further alleged that the three men deliberately withheld intelligence about the identities and activities of the suspected masterminds, and also failed to report information concerning the activities of the alleged terrorists and the actual kidnapping to security agencies, thereby frustrating efforts to apprehend those responsible.
The Federal Government also accused the three defendants of professing membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge sheet as an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist organisation, Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru).
Separate allegations were made against the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, who was accused of operating a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace,” allegedly used to train and issue operational instructions to terrorists, and to preach messages that allegedly incited members to commit acts of terrorism. The Federal Government also accused Umar of illegally mining gold in streams located in the Chaza area of Suleja, Niger State, between 2024 and 2026.
The case is expected to proceed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
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