Defendants Plead Not Guilty to Seven-Count Terrorism Charge Over May 15 Kidnap
The Department of State Services (DSS) has re-arraigned five men accused of involvement in the May 15, 2026, abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The defendants are also accused of complicity in the killing of two victims and alleged membership of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), a proscribed terrorist organisation.
They were re-arraigned on a seven-count amended charge filed by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government. All five defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the DSS legal team, urged the court to commence the trial immediately in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Oyedepo also asked the court to protect the identities of prosecution witnesses by allowing them to testify while wearing masks. Defence counsel, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the applications.
Justice Salim Ibrahim subsequently granted the requests.
According to the amended charge, Mahmud Muhammad and Abubakar Abbas allegedly ordered the other three defendants, described by the prosecution as their “foot soldiers,” to kidnap and kill Nigerians in different parts of the country if they were arrested.
The prosecution alleged that the order resulted in the abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in Oriire LGA.
The defendants are also accused of causing the deaths of two victims, identified in the charge as Oyedokun and Olaleye, with the prosecution alleging that Olaleye was decapitated.
The prosecution further accused the defendants of failing to disclose information about an imminent terrorist act and planned kidnapping to law enforcement or security agencies.
Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani were separately accused of aiding the alleged abduction, while Mahmud Muhammad and Abubakar Abbas were accused of concealing information about the alleged terrorist act.
The charges were filed under various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when gunmen invaded three schools in the Ahoro-Esiele, Yawota and Alawusa communities of Oriire LGA.
The targeted schools were Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, L.A. Primary School in Esiele and Community Grammar School in Esiele.
The abducted pupils and teachers were later released after 56 days in captivity following a joint security operation. The Federal Government and military authorities said no ransom was paid for their release.
The trial is expected to continue before the Federal High Court.