The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed a 10-count criminal charge against three individuals arrested in connection with the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, encompass allegations of terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement, and illegal mining.
The Defendants and Allegations
The three accused individuals are 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 defendants reside in the Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the prosecution, the defendants conspired with three other individuals—Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab—between January and May 2026 to orchestrate the abductions. The actual incident occurred on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed individuals attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School located within the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire. The victims were subsequently released on July 10, 2026.
In addition to direct conspiracy, the prosecution alleges that the defendants actively aided the kidnapping operation and intentionally concealed vital information regarding the identities and plans of the masterminds, failing to alert security agencies despite having prior knowledge of the plot.
Links to Proscribed Groups and Digital Incitement
The charge sheet further asserts that around June 6, 2026, the trio professed membership in Darul Salam, an organization identified as an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan, commonly known as Ansaru.
The first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, faces additional specific counts. The state accuses him of utilizing a WhatsApp group named "The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace" to provide training, instructions, and ideological preachings aimed at inciting members to commit acts of terrorism. These actions are being prosecuted under both the Terrorism Prevention Act and the Cybercrime Prohibition Act.
Additional Charges and Legal Status
Umar faces a separate tenth count involving economic offenses. The prosecution alleges that between 2024 and 2026, he engaged in unauthorized gold mining operations within the streams of the Chaza area in Suleja, Niger State, violating the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
Security sources indicate that investigations into the three primary suspects have concluded, and they are scheduled for their initial court appearance next week. Law enforcement agencies are continuing investigations into other potential accomplices associated with the case.