Oriire School Kidnap: Court Sentences Three Terrorism Convicts to Life Imprisonment
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three persons to life imprisonment over their involvement in the kidnapping of students and teachers at a school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the sentence after convicting Abdulrazak Umar (also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) on terrorism-related charges.
The convicts were arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining. They pleaded guilty to some of the charges, including concealing information about the alleged masterminds of the school attack and belonging to Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist organisation, Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru).
While all three defendants pleaded guilty to counts four and six, only Umar admitted guilt to additional counts involving allegations that he provided training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”
They, however, maintained their innocence on the remaining counts.
The Federal Government had accused the trio, all residents of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, of conspiring with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to abduct school children and teachers in Oyo State.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants aided the kidnapping operation and concealed information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite being aware of the plot.
The charges were filed under relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including sections dealing with conspiracy, support for terrorism and membership of proscribed organisations.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the Federal Government’s legal team, urged the court to sentence the defendants based on the counts to which they pleaded guilty.
The court subsequently convicted them and imposed life imprisonment sentences.
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