The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday arraigned five suspected members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, popularly known as Ansaru, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the May 15 kidnap of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and the killing of two victims.
The defendants are: Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, alias Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
They pleaded not guilty to a six-count accusation, including terrorism, conspiracy, supporting terrorism, and suppression of information.
According to the accusation FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, Muhammad and Abbas directed members of the Ansaru terrorist group to kidnap and kill victims across the country if they were apprehended in order to force the government to comply with their demands.
Part of the first count read, “That you… sometime between 2025 and 2026, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, did order your foot soldiers of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group… that in the event of your arrest by the government, to kidnap and kill victims in different parts of the country to compel the government to accede to your demands and in obedience to your order… and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 24 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 24(2)(b) of the same act.”
The prosecution claimed in the second count that the kidnapping resulted in the deaths of two victims, Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.
The charge claimed in part, “…after the above kidnapping on 15th May, 2026, at Oriire LGA, Oyo State, [the accused] did cause the death of two persons, Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye, by decapitating them.”
The DSS further accused the five defendants of concealing intelligence about the planned terrorist attack and neglecting to share it with law authorities, while Umar, Musa, and Sani were charged separately with conspiracy and helping in the alleged kidnapping and deaths.
Following their plea, counsel for the prosecution, Dr. Caliatus Eze, sought the court to remand the defendants in the DSS’s protective custody until trial.
Justice Salim Ibrahim approved the application and ordered that the accused be remanded in DSS custody.
The judge ordered unrestricted access to their lawyers and two immediate family members, along with proper medical treatment. unrestricted access to their lawyers and two members of their immediate families, as well as proper medical treatment.
He then adjourned the matter until September 25 to begin the trial.
The Oriire school attack happened on May 15, when armed men stormed Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in Oyo State, abducting around 46 students and staff.
The victims were held captive for about two months before being rescued by security forces, and two of them were slain during the incident.
The federal government has linked the attack to the Ansaru terrorist group, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated organization.
Chronicle NG reported that earlier this month, the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced two senior Ansaru commanders to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism-related offenses, including terrorism financing, kidnapping, and related crimes.
