The Federal Government has filed a 10-count charge against three men over their alleged involvement in the recent kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The suspects—Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa bin Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar—were charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja with offences bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants, all residents of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, allegedly conspired with three other suspects identified as Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Orire LGA.

The Federal Government also accused them of aiding the abduction and concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot.

The trio was further accused of professing membership of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), an offence punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In separate counts, the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, was accused of providing training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.” He was also alleged to have used the platform to incite members to commit acts of terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism Act and the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

Umar also faces a separate charge of engaging in illegal gold mining in streams located within the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority.

A security source disclosed that the three defendants are expected to be arraigned next week following the conclusion of investigations.

The source added that investigations are still ongoing into the activities of other suspected members of the group, stressing that the authorities are committed to ensuring a thorough and diligent prosecution of the case.

FG Arraigns Three Over Oyo School Kidnap, Terrorism Charges

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