The Federal Government has filed criminal charges against three men over their alleged involvement in the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The 10-count charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accuses Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) of terrorism-related offences, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, allegedly conspired with three other suspects — Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab — between January and May 2026 to abduct pupils and teachers in Oriire.
The Federal Government also alleged that the three men aided the abduction and deliberately concealed information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot.
Prosecutors further accused them of failing to report intelligence about the planned attack and those behind it to security agencies, contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In another count, the government alleged that on or about June 2, 2026, the defendants professed membership of Darul Salam, which the charge described as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
Separately, Abdulrazak Umar was accused of providing training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group named The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace. Prosecutors alleged he used the platform to incite members to commit acts of terrorism, in violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Umar also faces a separate allegation of unlawfully mining gold in streams in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority, an offence said to contravene Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
A security source said the suspects are expected to be arraigned next week following the conclusion of investigations.
“Others are still being probed as the agency is insistent on diligent investigation,” the source said.
The charges stem from the May 15 attack on three schools in Oriire LGA, where gunmen abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers, including a school principal. Two people were killed during the attack.
Days later, one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by the kidnappers while in captivity.
