Court Jails Three to Life Imprisonment Over Oyo School Abduction
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced three men linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.
Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled that the life sentence would take effect from the date of the convicts’ arrest.
The convicts, 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, were found guilty of offences related to terrorism and the school abduction.
The trio had been arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining. While they pleaded guilty to some of the charges, they denied others.
According to the Federal Government, the defendants are members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru). Prosecutors alleged that between January and May 2026, they conspired with other suspects to facilitate the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
The defendants also admitted concealing information about those responsible for the attack despite being aware of the plot. All three pleaded guilty to charges relating to withholding information and membership of the group, while Umar additionally admitted to providing ideological training to members through a WhatsApp platform titled The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.
During sentencing, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to convict the defendants based on their guilty pleas. Defence counsel, however, appealed for leniency, describing them as first-time offenders who had shown remorse and asking the court to consider their family responsibilities.
The prosecution maintained that the convicts knowingly withheld vital information about the planned attack instead of alerting security agencies, thereby aiding terrorist activities.
After considering the arguments of both parties, Justice Ibrahim convicted the three men and sentenced them to life imprisonment, ordering that the sentence begin from the date they were arrested.