The Federal Government on Friday arraigned three men before the Federal High Court, Abuja over the alleged abduction of pupils and teachers from a school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, charging them with terrorism-related offences, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.
The defendants; Abdulrazak Umar, a.ka (Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid) Yunusa Musa a.k.a (Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani a.k.a (Abu Itisar), all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, were charged with a 10-count charge under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the charge, the suspects allegedly conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap the school children and their teachers in Oyo State, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Act.
The Federal Government also accused the three men of aiding the kidnapping and deliberately concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot.
The offences are said to contravene Sections 26(2) and 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count one of the charge reads, That you, Abdulrazak Umar (a.k.a. Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (a.k.a. Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (a.k.a. Abu Itisar), adults, 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 conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab to kidnap school children and teachers in Orire LGA, Oyo State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under the same section of the Act.
Count two of the charge reads, That you, Abdulrazak Umar (a.k.a. Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (a.k.a. Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (a.k.a. Abu Itisar), adults, 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 Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab in the kidnap of school children and teachers in Orire LGA, Oyo State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 26(3) of the Act.
Count three of the charge reads,[That you Abdulrazak Umar (A.K.A Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid).
Yunusa Musa (A.K.A Yunusa Bin Musa) And Shamsu Adamu Sani (A.K.A Abu Itisar), adults all of Suleja LGA, Niger State sometime between January-May, 2026 at Suleja LGA, Niger State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed an offence when you aided Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab in the kidnap of school children and teachers in Orire LGA, Oyo State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 26(3) of the Act.
Count four of the charge reads, That you, Abdulrazak Umar (a.k.a. Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (a.k.a. Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (a.k.a. Abu Itisar), adults, 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, to wit: concealment, in that you had information about Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab as terrorists who masterminded the kidnap of school children and teachers of Orire LGA, Oyo State, but failed to report same to the relevant security operatives. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under the same section of the Act.
In a separate count, the prosecution alleged that on or about June 2, 2026, the defendants professed membership of Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Act.
Count ten alleges Umar of engaging in unlawful gold mining at streams within the Chaza area of Suleja LGA between 2024 and 2026, contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
