DSS arraigns five Ansaru suspects over Oyo school abduction, killing of two victims
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday arraigned five suspected members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, popularly known as Ansaru, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and the killing of two captives.
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday arraigned five suspected members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, popularly known as Ansaru, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and the killing of two captives.
The suspects, Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, alias Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar, were brought before Justice Salim Ibrahim on a six-count charge bordering on terrorism, conspiracy, aiding terrorist activities and failure to disclose information about planned attacks.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them by the Federal Government.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, the prosecution alleged that Muhammad and Abbas, described as senior members of the Ansaru terrorist organisation, issued directives to members of the group to carry out kidnappings and killings across the country in the event of their arrest by security agencies.
The government alleged that the order was intended to pressure authorities into meeting the demands of the terrorist group.
One of the counts read: “That you sometime between 2025 and 2026, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did order your foot soldiers of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group that in the event of your arrest by the government, to kidnap and kill victims in different parts of the country in order to compel the government to accede to your demands and in obedience to your order, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 24(2)(b) of the same Act.”
The prosecution further accused the defendants of being responsible for the abduction operation carried out on May 15, 2026, at Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, which resulted in the death of two victims, Michael Oyedokun and John Olaleye.
According to the charge, the victims were allegedly killed through decapitation after being abducted by members of the terrorist group.
The DSS also alleged that the suspects concealed information about the planned terrorist activities and failed to report such information to relevant security authorities.
In separate counts, Umar, Musa and Sani were accused of conspiracy and providing support to facilitate the alleged kidnapping and killings.
Following the defendants’ arraignment, Caliatus Eze, counsel to the prosecution, urged the court to order their continued detention in the protective custody of the DSS pending the conclusion of trial.
Ibrahim granted the application and ordered that the suspects be remanded in DSS custody.
However, the judge directed the security agency to allow the defendants unhindered access to their legal representatives and two immediate family members.
He also ordered that they be provided with adequate medical attention while in custody.
The court adjourned the matter until September 25 for the commencement of trial.
The arraignment followed investigations into the May 15 attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School, where armed assailants abducted about 46 pupils and teachers.
The victims reportedly spent nearly two months in captivity before security forces rescued most of them, while two captives were killed during the incident.
The Federal Government has identified Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organisation operating in parts of Nigeria, as the group allegedly responsible for the attack.
The latest prosecution comes after the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced two senior Ansaru commanders to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences, including terrorism financing, kidnapping and other crimes linked to the activities of the group.
