THE Federal Government on Friday arraigned three men — Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa bin Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, popularly called Abu Itisar — over the recent abduction of pupils and teachers from a school in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
News Point Nigeria reports that gunmen stormed three schools in Oyo State on May 15 and abducted several students and teachers. One of the teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded while in captivity.
The victims eventually regained their freedom after spending 56 days in the forest. Their release followed a coordinated operation by security agencies, during which some officers reportedly paid the supreme price.
On Friday, the Federal Government filed a 10-count charge against the suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The defendants, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, were accused of conspiring with one Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
They were also accused of aiding the abduction of the pupils and teachers and concealing information regarding the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot, offences said to contravene Sections 26(2) and 16(1) of the Act.
According to the charge sheet, the trio, on or about June 2, 2026, professed membership of Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Terrorism Act.
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 incited members of the group to commit acts of terrorism through his preachings, an offence said to contravene Sections 15 and 2(2)(g) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
The tenth count accused Umar of engaging in illegal gold mining activities at streams within the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority, contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
According to the first count in the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab to abduct schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The second and third counts alleged that the trio aided the kidnappers in carrying out the abduction, contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In counts four and five, the suspects were accused of concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds and failing to report details of the kidnap to security agencies to facilitate their arrest.
The sixth count alleged that the defendants openly professed membership of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the outlawed Ansaru terrorist group.
Counts seven and eight specifically accused Abdulrazak Umar of using his WhatsApp platform, “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace,” to provide training and instructions to terrorists.
The ninth count further alleged that Umar incited members of the WhatsApp group to engage in acts of terrorism through his teachings, contrary to the Cybercrime Act.
The final count accused him of unlawfully mining gold in streams around Chaza in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State between 2024 and 2026.
The Federal Government said the offences are punishable under the relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the Cybercrime Act and the Miscellaneous Offences Act.