The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.
Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled that the prison terms would take effect from the date the convicts were first arrested.
The court found Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) guilty of offences connected to terrorism and the school kidnapping incident.
The trio had earlier entered guilty pleas to some of the charges brought against them by the Federal Government while denying others.
They were prosecuted on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
According to the prosecution, the defendants were members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a terrorist organisation banned in Nigeria.
The Federal Government alleged that the suspects, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, worked with other alleged accomplices, including Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, between January and May 2026 to facilitate the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
The prosecution also accused them of withholding information about the identities and activities of those who planned and carried out the attack despite knowing about it.
During the trial, the three admitted concealing information about those behind the school abduction and acknowledged belonging to Darul Salam.
All three pleaded guilty to counts four and six, while Umar additionally admitted to charges relating to training members of the group through a WhatsApp platform titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”
They pleaded not guilty to the remaining counts.
Following the guilty pleas, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants on the counts they admitted.
Defence lawyers appealed for mercy, describing the convicts as first-time offenders who had shown remorse by pleading guilty.
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Counsel argued that the offences they admitted did not directly involve carrying out the kidnapping and urged the court to consider their responsibilities as married men with children and elderly parents.
However, the prosecution maintained that the defendants knowingly concealed information about terrorist activities and failed to alert security agencies despite being aware of the plot.
The government said their actions violated provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including sections relating to conspiracy, aiding terrorism, concealing terrorist activities and membership of a proscribed organisation.
After reviewing submissions from both sides, Justice Ibrahim convicted the three men and sentenced each of them to life imprisonment.
The kidnapping occurred on May 15, when gunmen stormed Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA.
A total of 46 victims, comprising 39 pupils and seven teachers, were abducted during the attack.
The Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was killed while attempting to escape, while Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was later murdered by the kidnappers.
The remaining victims regained their freedom on July 10 after troops carried out an intelligence-led operation at the kidnappers’ hideouts in Old Oyo National Park.
The Nigerian Army announced that 44 pupils and teachers were rescued, while eight suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate were arrested.
The Presidency also disclosed that no ransom was paid and no concessions were granted to the abductors, who had reportedly demanded ₦1 billion and the release of one of their detained commanders.
Following the rescue operation, the Federal Government filed the charges that eventually led to Wednesday’s convictions and life sentences.