By Mary Onyia
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences connected to the kidnapping of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Justice Salim Ibrahim convicted and sentenced Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) after they admitted to concealing information about the masterminds of the attack and belonging to a proscribed terrorist group.
The three defendants, who were arraigned on a 10-count charge filed by the Federal Government, pleaded guilty to counts relating to concealment of information and membership of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the banned terrorist organisation Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru). Umar also admitted providing training and terrorist instructions through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.” They, however, pleaded not guilty to the remaining counts.
Following their guilty pleas, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to convict and sentence them on the admitted charges. Justice Ibrahim subsequently imposed life sentences on the defendants in accordance with the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The Federal Government alleged that the convicts, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, conspired with other suspects between January and May 2026 in connection with the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
Prosecutors also accused them of aiding the kidnapping, concealing the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds, and participating in the activities of a proscribed terrorist organisation.