ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government has filed a 10-count terrorism charge against three suspects arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over the alleged kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Okay News reports that the defendants are Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
The charges were filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation before the Federal High Court in Abuja and include terrorism, conspiracy, aiding kidnapping, concealment of terrorist activities, membership of a proscribed organisation and incitement to terrorism.
Other allegations include providing terrorist training, cyber-related offences and unlawful mining. The prosecution said the defendants, who reside in Suleja, Niger State, allegedly conspired between January and May 2026 with three other suspects to abduct schoolchildren and teachers in Orire LGA.
The charge sheet identified the other suspects as Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab. The Federal Government alleged that the three defendants supported the principal suspects and failed to report information about their identities, activities and the planned kidnapping to security agencies.
The prosecution also accused the defendants of concealing information that could have helped prevent the abduction or led to the arrest of those allegedly responsible. The allegations were brought under provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In another count, the defendants were accused of professing membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge sheet as an affiliate of Ansaru, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
Separate allegations were brought against Umar, who the Federal Government accused of operating a WhatsApp group called “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.” Prosecutors alleged that the platform was used to provide training and operational guidance to members of the group and to promote extremist messages capable of inciting terrorism.
Umar was also accused of engaging in illegal gold mining in the Chaza area of Suleja between 2024 and 2026. The prosecution alleged that the mining activities were connected to financial operations under investigation.
A security source familiar with the case said investigations into the three suspects had been completed and that they were expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court next week.
The source added that security agencies were still investigating other individuals allegedly linked to the network. The charges followed the recent rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State after a coordinated security operation.
