The Federal Government has unveiled the identities of three men allegedly involved in the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, arraigning them before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, terrorism-related offences, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
The defendants are Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar, all of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the charge sheet filed before the court, the trio allegedly conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
They were also accused of aiding the abduction, concealing information about the alleged masterminds and failing to report the planned attack to security agencies despite having prior knowledge of it.
The Federal Government further alleged that the defendants professed membership of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru).
Abdulrazak Umar was separately accused of using a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” to provide terrorist training and incite members to commit acts of terrorism.
He also faces a charge of illegal gold mining in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026.
A security source disclosed that the suspects are expected to appear before the Federal High Court next week following the conclusion of investigations, adding that security agencies are still investigating other suspects believed to have played roles in the Oriire school kidnapping.