FG arraigns three over Oyo school kidnap

The Federal Government has filed terrorism charges against three men arrested by the Department of State Services over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The 10-count charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, accuses the suspects of terrorism, conspiracy, aiding kidnapping, concealing terrorist activities, membership of a proscribed terrorist group, incitement to terrorism, terrorist training, cyber-related offences and illegal mining.

The defendants 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.

According to the charge sheet, the three, all residents of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, allegedly conspired between January and May 2026 with three other suspects — Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab — to abduct schoolchildren and teachers in Orire LGA.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants assisted the principal suspects in carrying out the abduction and deliberately concealed information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite prior knowledge of the planned attack.

The Federal Government further accused them of failing to report information that could have prevented the kidnapping or aided the arrest of those responsible, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The charge also alleged that the trio professed membership of Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist organisation Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru).

Separate allegations were made against the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, who was accused of creating and administering a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace,” through which he allegedly provided guidance, 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 addition, Umar was charged with engaging in illegal gold mining in the Chaza area of Suleja between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority. Investigators alleged the mining activities formed part of the financial network linked to the case.

A security source familiar with the investigation said the suspects would be arraigned before the Federal High Court next week, adding that investigations into other members of the alleged terrorist network were ongoing.

The charges follow the recent rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers after a coordinated operation involving the DSS and other security agencies. If convicted, the defendants face penalties under Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, the Cybercrime Act and other applicable laws.