On Friday, the federal government officially charged three individuals in an Abuja Federal High Court for their involvement in the abduction of students and teachers from the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The defendants, identified as Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, all reside in the Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
Prosecutors filed a 10-count indictment against the trio, detailing allegations that include terrorism, kidnapping, and the illegal extraction of gold. Authorities assert that between January and May 2026, the accused conspired with others—specifically Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab—to carry out the kidnappings. Furthermore, the men are accused of concealing their knowledge of the criminal plot from security agencies.
The charges further allege that on June 2, 2026, the defendants claimed affiliation with Darul Salam, a group linked to the banned terrorist organization Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan, also known as Ansaru. In addition to these charges, Abdulrazak Umar faces accusations of utilizing a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” to incite terrorism and provide instructional training to extremists. Umar is also charged under the Miscellaneous Offences Act for engaging in unauthorized gold mining activities in the Chaza region of Suleja between 2024 and 2026.
Legal proceedings are scheduled to continue next week as investigators conclude their inquiries. Security officials have indicated that additional suspects remain under investigation to ensure a comprehensive prosecution.
