The Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned five suspected members of the Ansaru terrorist organisation before the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations of terrorism, kidnapping and the gruesome killing of two teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The defendants, including two alleged senior commanders of the terrorist group and three suspected accomplices, were brought before Justice Salim Ibrahim on multiple charges bordering on terrorism-related offences.
Following their arraignment, Justice Ibrahim adjourned the case until September 24, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
He also ordered that all five suspects remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending further proceedings.
The prosecution alleged that the suspects were involved in the abduction and subsequent beheading of two teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, an incident that sparked widespread outrage in Oyo State.
Among those arraigned are Abubakar Abba Mahmuda, also known as Abu Bara’a, and Abubakar Abbas, popularly called Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri, both identified by security agencies as commanders within the Ansaru terrorist network.
The DSS had announced the arrest of the two suspects in August 2025 during operations targeting the Mahmuda faction of the extremist group.
Security operatives later apprehended three additional suspects believed to have participated in the Oriire attack and maintained links with the Ansaru organisation during a rescue operation involving the kidnapped victims.
The latest prosecution comes only days after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and his deputy, Mahmud Al-Nigeri, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to some counts in a 32-count charge, including membership of a terrorist organisation.
Despite the convictions, indications emerged that the DSS was dissatisfied with aspects of the judgment and was considering an appeal.
Wednesday’s fresh arraignment marks a new phase in the government’s prosecution of alleged Ansaru members, with authorities seeking to hold the suspects accountable for additional offences connected to terrorism and violent attacks in Oyo State.
The trial is expected to begin on September 24, when the prosecution will present evidence against the five defendants.
