The Nigerian government has initiated legal proceedings against three men accused of participating in the abduction of students and teachers in the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The defendants, identified as Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Facing a 10-count charge, the group is accused of terrorism, kidnapping, and concealing criminal information. Prosecutors allege that between January and May 2026, the trio collaborated with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab to orchestrate the school kidnapping. Furthermore, the charges indicate that on June 2, 2026, the defendants identified themselves as members of Darul Salam, which is recognized as a faction of the banned terrorist group Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan, commonly known as Ansaru.
Additional counts specifically target Abdulrazak Umar, who is accused of using a WhatsApp group named “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” to train and incite followers toward acts of terrorism. Umar also faces a charge of illegal gold mining in the Chaza district of Niger State, occurring between 2024 and 2026. Security officials noted that investigations into other potential accomplices remain active as the government continues its pursuit of those involved in the kidnapping plot.