The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three suspects in the kidnapping of students and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo state to life in prison.
According to Channels TV, Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered that the offenders’ life sentences begin on the date of their arrest.
He handed down the punishment after convicting Abdulrazak Umar (also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) of terrorism and kidnapping.
The defendants had previously pled guilty to some of the allegations made against them by the federal government while disputing others.
They faced a 10-count accusation of terrorism, kidnapping, suppression of information, instigation, and illegal mining.
The Federal Government accused the trio of being members of Darul Salam, an associate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a Nigerian terrorist group.
The prosecution claimed that the defendants, all from Suleja Local Government Area in Niger State, colluded with other suspects, including Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab, between January and May 2026 to aid the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
They were also accused of withholding information concerning the identity and actions of the alleged masterminds of the attack despite being aware of the plan.
Throughout the trials, the defendants agreed to hiding information regarding individuals responsible for the school attack and confirmed their involvement in Darul Salam.
While all three pleaded guilty to counts four and six of the allegation, only Umar admitted guilt to additional counts related to imparting training and instructions to members of the group via a WhatsApp platform dubbed “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”
However, they pleaded not guilty on the remaining counts.
Following their guilty pleas, the Federation’s Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who headed the prosecution team, urged the court to sentence the defendants on the charges they confessed to.
Before the sentencing, the defendants’ attorneys pleaded with the court for leniency, describing them as first-time offenders who had demonstrated regret by pleading guilty.
The defense counsel contended that the counts they confessed were not directly related to the kidnapping and asked the court to consider their family duties, stressing that they were married men with children and elderly parents who relied on them.
He requested the court grant them a second chance.
However, prosecution counsel contended that the prisoners were aware of the activities of individuals involved in the attack and, as responsible citizens, should have disclosed the information to security officials.
The Federal Government claimed that the defendants violated provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including conspiracy, assisting terrorism, concealment of terrorist acts, and membership in a proscribed organization.
After hearing both parties’ representations, the court convicted the defendants and sentenced them to life in prison.
On May 15, gunmen stormed Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota towns of Oriire LGA, kidnapping 46 individuals, including 39 students and seven instructors.
Joel Adesiyan, the assistant headmaster of L.A. Primary School, was killed while attempting to flee during the raid, while Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher, was killed by his captors.
The remaining victims were liberated on July 10 after an intelligence-led military operation targeting the kidnappers’ hideouts in Old Oyo National Park.
The Nigerian Army stated that 44 students and teachers were freed, while eight suspected gang members were apprehended.
The Presidency further declared that no ransom was paid and no concessions were made to the kidnappers, who were apparently demanding N1 billion and the release of a captured commander.
Following the rescue, the federal government filed a 10-count accusation against the three defendants for alleged complicity in the abduction.
The charges included kidnapping, terrorism, concealment, instigation, and illegal mining.
