Federal Government Files Terrorism, Kidnapping Charges Against Three Over Abduction of Oyo Schoolchildren

The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against three suspected members of a terrorist group over the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The suspects—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—were charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, allegedly conspired with three other suspects identified as Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to orchestrate the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants not only participated in the kidnapping but also concealed information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having knowledge of the planned attack, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

The Federal Government further accused the three men of professing membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge as an affiliate of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a terrorist organisation proscribed in Nigeria. The alleged offence was said to have occurred on June 2, 2026.

In addition, the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, was accused of training and instructing members of the terrorist group and using a WhatsApp platform named “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” to incite acts of terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

The charge also alleged that Umar engaged in illegal gold mining at streams located in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State between 2024 and 2026, an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

The three defendants are expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja next week.