The Federal Government has filed a 10-count charge against three men over the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, accusing them of terrorism-related offences, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
The defendants, identified as Abdulrazak Umar (also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (also known as Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (also known as Abu Itisar), are all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the charge filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the three suspects allegedly conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA of Oyo State.
The prosecution also alleged that the defendants aided the abduction, concealed information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds, and failed to report the planned attacks to security agencies despite having prior knowledge.
In addition, the trio is accused of professing membership of Darul Salam, described by the government as an affiliate of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
The charge further singled out Abdulrazak Umar, accusing him of providing training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” and using the platform to incite members to commit terrorist acts.
Umar also faces a separate charge of allegedly engaging in illegal gold mining at streams in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority.
The charges were brought under relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The three defendants are expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja next week.
