FG files terrorism charges against three over Oyo school kidnap

The Federal Government has filed a 10-count charge against three men arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the abduction of pupils and teachers from a school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, accuse the defendants of terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement to terrorism 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.
All three are from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired with three other suspects—Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab—between January and May 2026 to kidnap school children and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The Federal Government further alleged that the trio aided the kidnapping and deliberately concealed information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot.

The defendants are also accused of professing membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge as an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist organisation, Jama’atu Ansarul Musulmina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In addition, the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, is accused of providing training and operational instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”

He is also alleged to have used the platform to incite members to commit acts of terrorism, contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

The final count accuses Umar of engaging in unlawful gold mining in streams within the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area, Niger State, between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority.

The offences are alleged to be contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

A security source disclosed that the defendants are expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court next week following the conclusion of investigations.

The source added that investigations into other suspects linked to the alleged kidnapping and terrorist activities were ongoing.

“Others are still being investigated as the agency is committed to ensuring a thorough and diligent investigation,” the source said.