The Federal Government has filed a 10-count charge against three men accused of involvement in the abduction of pupils and teachers from a school in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The defendants are 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.
They are facing charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja relating to terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
The defendants, who are all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, are alleged to have conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to abduct schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
According to the charge, the alleged conspiracy constitutes an offence under Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
The prosecution also alleged that the three defendants assisted in the abduction and concealed information about the identities and activities of the suspected masterminds, despite allegedly knowing about the plot.
The alleged offences are said to be contrary to Sections 26(2) and 16(1) of the Terrorism Act.
The Federal Government further alleged that, on or about 2 June, the defendants admitted to being members of Darul Salam, which prosecutors described as an affiliate of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, commonly known as Ansaru.
Ansaru is a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
The prosecution said the defendants’ alleged membership of the group violated Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Umar, the first defendant, was separately accused of providing training and instructions to suspected terrorists.
He was also alleged to have encouraged members of a WhatsApp group titled The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace to commit acts of terrorism through his preaching.
The alleged offences were brought under Sections 15 and 2(2)(g) of the Terrorism Act, as well as Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
Umar was further accused of carrying out unlawful gold-mining activities in streams in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026.
Prosecutors alleged that he conducted the mining activities without lawful authority, contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The Federal High Court has not yet fixed a date for the defendants’ arraignment.
Some of the counts in the charge state:
“That you, 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, all adults from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, sometime between January and May 2026, at Suleja Local Government Area, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State. “You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”
Another count alleges: “That you, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani, sometime between January and May 2026, aided Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab in the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 26(3) of the Act.”
A separate count against Umar states:
“That you, Abdulrazak Umar, an adult male from Sandako, Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, on or about a date in July, incited members of your WhatsApp group titled The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace, through your preaching, to commit acts of terrorism.
“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”
The illegal-mining count alleges: “That you, Abdulrazak Umar, sometime between 2024 and 2026, engaged in gold mining in streams in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area without lawful authority. “You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and punishable under the same section of the Act.”