Oyo Abduction: Ansaru Suspects Plead Not Guilty To Amended Charges

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday re-arraigned five suspected members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, also known as Ansaru, over the alleged abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The defendants, 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, were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a seven-count amended charge.

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, 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 victims identified in the charge were Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.

In count one, the prosecution alleged that Muhammad and Abbas ordered the other three defendants, described as their “foot soldiers” in Ansaru, to kidnap and kill Nigerians in different parts of the country in the event of their arrest by the government.

The prosecution alleged that the order resulted in the abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire.

In another count, the Federal Government alleged that the defendants caused the death of Deacon John Olaleye by decapitating him, an offence it said contravened provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The defendants were also accused of failing to disclose information about an imminent terrorist act and a planned abduction to law enforcement or security agencies.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendants conspired with Muhammed Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, alongside 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 of concealing information about the planned attack allegedly linked to the May 15, 2026 abduction and deaths of Oyedokun and Olaleye.

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 Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Oyedepo also asked the court to protect the identities of prosecution witnesses and permit them to testify while wearing masks, citing security concerns. Defence counsel, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the application.

Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the prosecution’s request and directed that arrangements be made for the full-scale trial.

The case was adjourned until Friday, September 18, for continuation of hearing.