FG arraigns 3 men over kidnap of Oriire school children, teachers

The Federal Government on Friday arraigned three men over the recent kidnap of school children and teachers in Orire Local Government Area, LGA, of Oyo State.

The defendants — Abdulrazak Umar, a.k.a. Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, a.k.a. Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, a.k.a. Abu Itisar — were arraigned on a 10-count charge before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The charges border on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants, all of Suleja LGA, Niger State, allegedly conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap school children and teachers in Orire LGA, Oyo State, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

They are also accused of aiding the kidnap and concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite knowledge of the plot, offences said to contravene Sections 26(2) and 16(1) of the Act.

The trio were further accused of professing membership of Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of Jamaatu Ansarul Muslima Fi Biladis Sudan, Ansaru, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria, on or about June 2, 2026. The offence contravenes Section 25(1) of the Act.

In separate counts, the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, is specifically accused of providing training and instructions to terrorists and inciting members to commit acts of terrorism through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace”. 

The offences contravene Sections 15 and 2(2)(g) of the Terrorism Act, as well as Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

The tenth count accused Umar of engaging in unlawful gold mining at streams within the Chaza area of Suleja LGA between 2024 and 2026, contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

The charges read in part:  

“COUNT 1: That you Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani, between January and May 2026 at Suleja LGA, Niger State, conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab to kidnap school children and teachers in Orire LGA, Oyo State, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

COUNT 2 & 3: That you aided the said persons in the kidnap of school children and teachers in Orire LGA, Oyo State, contrary to Section 26(2) of the Act.

COUNT 4 & 5: That you concealed information about the kidnap and the alleged masterminds but failed to report same to relevant security operatives, contrary to Section 16(1) of the Act.

COUNT 6: That you professed membership of Darul Salam, an affiliate of Ansaru, a proscribed terrorist group, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Act.”

Counts 7-9 relate to Umar’s alleged use of a WhatsApp group to provide terrorist training and incite terrorism. Count 10 relates to unlawful gold mining.

According to a security source, the suspects are expected to appear in court next week following the conclusion of investigations. “Others are still being probed as the Agency is insistent on diligent investigation,” the source added.