The Federal High Court 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 handed down the sentence after convicting Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) on terrorism-related charges connected to the school abduction. The judge ordered that the life sentence should take effect from the date of their arrest.
The convicts were arraigned by the Federal Government on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
According to the prosecution, the three men are members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria. They were accused of conspiring with other suspects between January and May 2026 to facilitate the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA.
The defendants admitted concealing information about those responsible for the attack and acknowledged their membership of Darul Salam. While all three pleaded guilty to counts relating to concealment of information and membership of a proscribed organisation, Umar also admitted to providing training and instructions to members of the group through a WhatsApp platform titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.” They pleaded not guilty to the remaining charges.
Following the guilty pleas, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants on the counts they admitted. Defence counsel appealed for leniency, describing the convicts as first-time offenders who had shown remorse and asking the court to consider their family responsibilities.
The prosecution, however, argued that the convicts knowingly concealed information about the planned attack and failed to alert security agencies despite being aware of the activities of those involved.
After considering the submissions of both parties, Justice Ibrahim convicted the three defendants and sentenced each of them to life imprisonment.
The case stems from the May 15 attack on Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA, where gunmen abducted 46 people, comprising 39 pupils and seven teachers.
The Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was killed while attempting to escape during the attack, while Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was later murdered by his captors.
The remaining victims regained their freedom on July 10 following an intelligence-led military operation at the kidnappers’ hideouts in the Old Oyo National Park. The Nigerian Army said 44 pupils and teachers were rescued, while eight suspected gang members were arrested.
The Presidency maintained that no ransom was paid and no concessions were granted to the kidnappers, who had reportedly demanded N1 billion and the release of a detained commander.
Following the rescue operation, the Federal Government filed charges against the three convicts over their alleged roles in the abduction, culminating in Thursday’s life sentence.
