The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment over terrorism-related offences.
Justice Salim Ibrahim, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, ordered that the life sentences should take effect from the date the convicts were arrested.
The convicts — Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar — were found guilty after pleading guilty to selected counts in a 10-count charge filed against them by the Federal Government.
They were prosecuted on charges bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
According to the prosecution, the three men are members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a terrorist organisation proscribed in Nigeria.
The Federal Government alleged that the defendants, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, conspired with other suspects, including Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, between January and May 2026 to facilitate the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA of Oyo State.
They were also accused of concealing information about the identities and activities of those behind the attack despite having prior knowledge of the plot.
During the trial, all three defendants admitted concealing information about the perpetrators and acknowledged belonging to the Darul Salam group. They pleaded guilty to counts four and six of the charge.
Umar further admitted guilt to additional charges of providing training and instructions to members of the terrorist group through a WhatsApp platform titled The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.
However, the defendants denied the remaining counts.
Following the guilty pleas, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants on the offences they admitted.
Defence counsel appealed for leniency, describing the convicts as first-time offenders who had demonstrated remorse by pleading guilty.
The lawyer argued that the offences to which they pleaded guilty were not directly connected to the kidnapping itself and urged the court to consider their family responsibilities, including their wives, children and elderly parents.
The prosecution, however, maintained that the convicts knowingly concealed information about terrorist activities and failed to alert security agencies despite being aware of the planned attack.
It argued that their actions violated provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, relating to conspiracy, aiding terrorism, concealment of terrorist activities and membership of a proscribed organisation.
Justice Ibrahim agreed with the prosecution’s submissions, convicted the three men and sentenced each of them to life imprisonment.
The case stems from the May 15 attack on Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA, where armed men abducted 46 people, comprising 39 pupils and seven teachers.
The raid turned deadly as the Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was killed while trying to escape. A Mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was later murdered by his captors.
The remaining victims regained their freedom on July 10 after an intelligence-led military operation by the Nigerian Army targeted the kidnappers’ hideouts in the Old Oyo National Park.
The military announced that 44 pupils and teachers were rescued during the operation, while eight suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate were arrested.
The Presidency also disclosed that no ransom was paid and no concessions were granted to the kidnappers, who had demanded ₦1 billion and the release of one of their detained commanders before the rescue.
