Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Bornet .k
Three suspects standing trial over the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have pleaded guilty to charges relating to the concealment of information about the alleged masterminds of the attack and membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Salem Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they admitted to some of the charges brought against them by the Federal Government.
The suspects — Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsudin Sani — were accused of involvement in activities connected to the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area between January and May 2026.
During proceedings, the defendants pleaded guilty to being members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of Ansaru, a group designated as a terrorist organisation by Nigerian authorities.
The first and third defendants, Abdulrazak Umar and Shamsudin Sani, also pleaded guilty to allegations of providing training, instructions and inciting members of a WhatsApp group identified as “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace”.
Umar additionally admitted to illegally mining gold at streams in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area, Niger State, without lawful authorisation.
The charges form part of a wider investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abduction of pupils and teachers from Oriire, an incident that generated national concern and renewed calls for stronger security measures around educational institutions.
Although the defendants pleaded guilty to some of the allegations, they pleaded not guilty to other charges filed against them by the prosecution.
Following their plea, the court began the process required before possible conviction on the charges to which they admitted guilt. The prosecution presented a witness, an investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS), to provide evidence and review the facts of the case before the court.
The DSS investigator’s testimony is expected to provide further details about the investigation, the alleged activities of the defendants and the evidence linking them to the offences.
The case is being handled by the Federal Government as part of ongoing efforts to prosecute individuals accused of involvement in terrorism-related activities and attacks on vulnerable communities.
The Oriire school abduction case attracted widespread attention because of the involvement of children and teachers, raising concerns about the safety of schools and the growing threat posed by criminal and extremist networks.
Security agencies have repeatedly warned that criminal groups and extremist organisations continue to exploit vulnerable communities through kidnapping, recruitment and other illegal activities.
The prosecution of the suspects is expected to provide further insight into the networks allegedly responsible for the attack and the measures being taken by authorities to disrupt their operations.
Meanwhile, the court will continue proceedings to determine the outcome of the charges and consider the evidence presented by the prosecution and defence.
The case remains closely watched as Nigeria continues its broader fight against terrorism, banditry and organised criminal activities affecting different parts of the country.
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