FG Charges Three Over Oyo School Abduction, Terrorism

The Federal Government has filed terrorism-related charges against three suspected members of a criminal network accused of abducting students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

According to court documents filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the defendants — Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa (a.k.a. Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (a.k.a. Abu Itisar) — are facing a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.

The charge sheet alleged that the three suspects, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to abduct school children and teachers in Oyo State.

The Federal Government further accused the defendants of facilitating the abduction and deliberately withholding information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot, offences said to violate relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.

Prosecutors also alleged that on or about June 2, 2026, the trio professed membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation operating in Nigeria.

In addition, the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, was accused of training and directing terrorist operatives, as well as using a WhatsApp platform titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” to incite members to commit acts of terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism Act and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

The prosecution also accused Umar of engaging in illegal gold mining at streams in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026, an offence said to contravene the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

The three defendants are expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja next week.