By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
Five suspects in the abduction of 46 schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have pleaded not guilty to an amended seven-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026.
The Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned the suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, September 17.
The defendants, who are suspected members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, also known as Ansaru, are Mahmud Muhammad, aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, aka Isah Adam/Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar.
The Federal Government, through the DSS, accused the defendants of terrorism-related offences, including conspiracy to kidnap about 46 persons, aiding the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers, concealing information about an imminent terrorist attack and causing the deaths of two victims.
The two victims identified in the charge were Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.
The prosecution alleged in count one that Muhammad and Abbas ordered the other three defendants, described as their “foot soldiers” in Ansaru, “to kidnap and kill innocent Nigerians (victims) in different parts of Nigeria in the event of your arrest by the Nigerian government, to compel the government to accede to your demands.”
According to the charge, the alleged order led to the abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from the Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire.
Count two read, “That you… sometime between 2025 and 2026 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an act of terrorism when you caused the death of Deacon John Olaleye by decapitating him. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2 (3) (g) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 24(2) of the same Act.”
The defendants were also accused of failing to disclose information about an imminent terrorist act and the planned abduction of the victims to law enforcement or security agencies.
In count five, the Federal Government alleged that the defendants conspired with three other suspects, Muhammed Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, and others still at large to abduct about 46 persons, including schoolchildren and teachers, in Oriire.
Three of the defendants, Umar, Musa and Sani, were separately accused of aiding the alleged abduction, while Muhammad and Abbas were accused in count seven of knowingly concealing information about the planned terrorist attack that allegedly resulted in the May 15, 2026, abduction of schoolchildren and teachers and the deaths of Oyedokun and Olaleye.
The offences were said to be contrary to various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven counts after they were read to them by the registrar of the court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the DSS legal team, subsequently applied for the immediate commencement of trial in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Oyedepo also asked the court to protect the identities of prosecution witnesses and allow them to testify while wearing masks, citing the need for their protection.
Counsel for the defendants, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the application.
Justice Salim Ibrahim subsequently granted the prosecution’s request.
The court thereafter commenced arrangements for the full-scale trial of the defendants.
The case was subsequently adjourned till Friday, September 18th, for continuation of hearing.
