Oriire school kidnappings: DSS docks Five Ansaru leaders on 7-count terror charge

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Abuja

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday re-arraigned five alleged leaders of the proscribed terrorist group Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of about 46 people, including students and teachers, from a school in Orire Local Government Area, Oyo State.

According to the amended charge the security agency filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the terror attack, which occurred on May 15, 2026, eventually resulted in the defendants beheading one Deacon John Olaleye and killing another person identified as Michael Oyedokun.

The defendants, who each took turns to plead not guilty to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, which was read to them before trial by Justice Salim Ibrahim, 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 prosecution told the court that two of the defendants, Muhammad (aka Abu Bara’a) from the Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State and Abbas (aka Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri) from the Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State, had instructed the other defendants, who are their foot soldiers, to kidnap and kill people in different parts of the country should they be arrested by the Nigerian government.

It was alleged that, in a bid to compel the government to accede to their demands, they instigated the kidnapping of students and teachers of Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, Orire LGA, Oyo State.

The defendants were said to have committed an offence contrary to Section 24 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 24(2)(b) of the same Act.

Meanwhile, following the pleas of the defendants, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who is leading the legal team of the DSS, applied for the immediate commencement of the trial, stressing that the witnesses were ready and available in court.

However, the DPPF prayed the court to shield the identities of the proposed witnesses by allowing them to wear masks and testify in the case.

The application, which was not opposed by the defence lawyer, Mr Bala Dakum, was granted by Justice Ibrahim.

Some of the counts in the amended charge against the defendants read:

“That you, Mahmud Muhammad (aka Abu Bara’a, Abbas Mukhtar) and Abubakar Abbas (aka Isah Adam, Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri), adults, males, of Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State and Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State respectively, sometime between 2025 and 2026 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an act of terrorism when you ordered Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar), your foot soldiers of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organization in Nigeria, 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, which instigated the kidnapping of about 46 pupils and teachers of Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, Orire LGA, Oyo State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 24(2)(b) of the same Act.

“That you, 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), adults, males, of Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State, and Suleja LGA, Niger State, respectively, sometime between 2025 and 2026 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence when you had information about imminent acts of terrorism and the kidnapping of about forty-six (46) persons by Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organization in Nigeria, which you knew to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension and conviction of the terrorists for acts of terrorism, but you failed to disclose the information to any law enforcement or security officer. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under the same section of the Act.

“That you, Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar), adults, males, all of Suleja LGA, Niger State, sometime between January and May 2026, at Suleja LGA, Niger State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence when you aided Muhammed Sani, Jibril Mohammed, Ibrahim Khabab, Mahmud Muhammad (aka Abu Bara’a, Abbas Mukhtar), and Abubakar Abbas (aka Isah Adam, Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri) in the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Orire LGA, Oyo State, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 24(2)(b) of the Act.”

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