Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government has filed a 10-count charge against three men over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, accusing them of terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining. The defendants—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)—were arraigned on Friday, July 17, 2026, before the Federal High Court in Abuja. All three are from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the charge sheet, the suspects allegedly conspired between January and May 2026 with three other men—Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab—to kidnap the schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State. The prosecution said the alleged conspiracy contravened Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The defendants were also accused of aiding the abduction and of concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite being aware of the plot.
Additional charges include openly professing membership of Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist organisation Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru). The first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, was separately accused of creating and administering a WhatsApp group titled "The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace," through which he allegedly provided training and operational instructions to members of the terrorist group. Prosecutors also alleged that Umar used the platform to incite members through extremist messages, contrary to the Terrorism Act and the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015. In a tenth count, Umar was charged with engaging in illegal gold mining in the Chaza area of Suleja between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority, allegedly as part of the financial network linked to the case.
The charges follow the recent rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers after a coordinated operation involving the Department of State Services and other security agencies. The victims—39 pupils and seven teachers—were abducted on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State. One teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded while in captivity. They regained their freedom after spending 56 days in the forest, following a coordinated security operation during which some officers reportedly paid the supreme price. A security source said investigations into other members of the alleged terrorist network were ongoing.
If convicted, the defendants face penalties under Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, the Cybercrime Act and other applicable laws.
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