The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men linked to the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.
Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled that the sentence will begin from the day the convicts were arrested, according to Channels TV.
The court found Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) guilty of offences tied to terrorism and the school abduction.
The three had pleaded guilty to some of the charges filed by the Federal Government but denied the others. They faced a 10-count charge covering terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
The Federal Government said they belonged to Darul Salam, an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a banned terrorist group in Nigeria.
Prosecutors said the suspects, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, worked with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to help carry out the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State. They were also accused of hiding information about those behind the attack despite knowing about the plan.
In court, the defendants admitted hiding information about those responsible for the attack and confirmed they were members of Darul Salam. All three pleaded guilty to counts four and six, while Umar alone admitted additional charges of training and directing members through a WhatsApp platform titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace”. They pleaded not guilty to the remaining counts.
After the guilty pleas, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, asked the court to sentence them on the charges they admitted. Defence lawyers sought mercy, saying they were first-time offenders, had shown remorse, were married with children, supported elderly parents and deserved another chance. The prosecution argued they knew about the attack and should have alerted security agencies.
The court convicted the trio and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
On May 15, gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA, abducting 46 people, including 39 pupils and seven teachers. Assistant Headmaster Joel Adesiyan was killed while trying to escape, while Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was later killed by his captors.
The victims regained their freedom on July 10 after an intelligence-led military operation in Old Oyo National Park. The Nigerian Army said 44 pupils and teachers were rescued and eight suspected gang members were arrested.
The Presidency said no ransom was paid and no concession was made despite demands for N1 billion and the release of a detained commander. The Federal Government later filed the 10-count charge against the three suspects over their alleged roles in the abduction, covering terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.
