Federal Government has filed a 10-count criminal charge against three men accused of participating in the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, include terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
The suspects, identified as 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), are all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
Prosecutors alleged that they conspired with other suspects between January and May 2026 to abduct schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, in violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants also aided the abduction and allegedly withheld information about the identities and activities of the suspected masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot. They are further accused of professing membership of Darul Salam, which authorities described as an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru.
Federal Government additionally accused Abdulrazak Umar of providing training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group and inciting members to carry out terrorist acts. He also faces a separate charge of unlawful gold mining in Niger State between 2024 and 2026.
Security sources said the three suspects, who were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), are expected to be arraigned next week, while investigations into other individuals linked to the abduction are ongoing.
The schoolchildren and teachers, who were kidnapped in May, were rescued earlier this month after spending 56 days in captivity following a joint security operation.
