Five alleged Ansaru members arraigned over Oriire school abductions

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five men accused of complicity in the May 15 kidnap of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, and the subsequent killing of two of the victims.

The five, said to be members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) terrorist group, were identified as Mahmud Muhammad (aka Abu Bara’a, Abbas Mukhtar); Abubakar Abbas (aka Isah Adam, Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri); Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid); Yunusa Musa (aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa); and Shamsu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar).

In count one, Muhammad and Abbas were accused of ordering their foot soldiers within Ansaru, including Umar, Musa and Sani, to kidnap and kill people across the country in the event of their arrest, in order to compel the government to accede to their demands.

In count two, the DSS alleged that the May 15 kidnap of pupils and teachers in Oriire, and the killing of two of the victims, were carried out in furtherance of that order, allegedly given by Muhammad and Abbas between 2025 and 2026.

In count three, all five defendants were accused of concealing information about the Oriire kidnap and killings without reporting it to any law enforcement or security agency.

In count four, Umar, Musa and Sani were accused of conspiring with Muhammad, Abbas and other Ansaru leaders, sometime between January and May 2026, to carry out the Oriire kidnap and killings.

In count five, the same three were accused of aiding Muhammad, Abbas and other Ansaru members in carrying out the kidnap and killings.

In count six, they were again accused of concealing information about the Oriire incidents and failing to report it to any law enforcement agency or security officer.

The five pleaded not guilty when each count was read to them.

Prosecuting lawyer, Dr Caliatus Eze, then applied that they be remanded in the protective custody of the DSS, a request Justice Salim Ibrahim granted.

Justice Ibrahim ordered that the defendants be given unhindered access to their lawyers and two members of their immediate families, and that they be accorded adequate medical attention.

He adjourned the matter until September 25 for the commencement of trial.

According to the charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, Muhammad and Abbas allegedly ordered their Ansaru foot soldiers, including Umar, Musa and Sani, that, should they be arrested, the group should kidnap and kill victims in different parts of the country to pressure the government into meeting their demands.

In line with that order, their foot soldiers allegedly kidnapped about 46 pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026, an offence contrary to Section 24, and punishable under Section 24(2)(b), of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The charge further alleges that, following the abduction, the group’s foot soldiers caused the deaths of two persons, Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye, by decapitation, contrary to Section 2(3)(g) and punishable under Section 24(2) of the Act.

All five defendants are also accused of knowingly concealing information about the imminent acts of terrorism that led to the kidnap and killings, despite knowing the information could have helped prevent the attack, and of failing to disclose it to security agencies, an offence contrary to, and punishable under, Section 16(1) of the Act.

Separately, Umar, Musa and Sani are accused of conspiring, sometime between January and May 2026 in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, with Muhammed Sani, Jibril Mohammed, Ibrahim Khabab, Muhammad, Abbas and others still at large, to kidnap the schoolchildren and teachers, contrary to and punishable under Section 26(1) of the Act.

They are further accused of aiding the others in carrying out the kidnap, contrary to Section 26(2) and punishable under Section 26(3) of the Act, and of separately concealing information about the plot, contrary to and punishable under Section 16(1) of the Act.