The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for their roles in the abduction of pupils and teachers from a school in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the sentences after the convicts, 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, pleaded guilty to some of the charges preferred against them by the Federal Government.
The trio were arraigned on a 10 count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining. They admitted withholding information about those behind the school abduction and confessed to being members of Darul Salam, a group identified as an affiliate of the banned terrorist organisation, Ansaru.
While Umar pleaded guilty to counts four and six as well as counts seven to 10, Musa and Sani admitted guilt only to counts four and six. The remaining charges were denied by the defendants.
Following their guilty pleas, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.
“The defendants have voluntarily pleaded guilty to the offences. We respectfully urge the court to convict them in line with the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” Oyedepo told the court.
The prosecution said the convicts, all residents of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, conspired with other suspects between January and May 2026 to kidnap pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
According to the prosecution, the defendants also concealed information about the identities and activities of the masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot.
The court further heard that the three men admitted belonging to the banned group on or about June 2, 2026, an offence contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently convicted the defendants on the counts to which they pleaded guilty and sentenced each of them to life imprisonment, bringing the prosecution arising from the Oyo school abduction to a significant conclusion.
