The Federal Government has arraigned three suspects linked to the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The suspects, identified 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.
Politics Nigeria reports that they were charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja on allegations bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.
The defendants, who are all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) following investigations into the kidnapping incident that drew national attention earlier this year.
Court documents filed by the Federal Government contain 10 counts against the accused persons.
Prosecutors alleged that the trio conspired with other individuals identified as Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab to carry out the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State between January and May 2026.
Part 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.”
The Federal Government further alleged that the defendants played supportive roles in the operation and knowingly assisted the alleged masterminds behind the kidnapping.
According to the charges, the suspects also failed to provide information to security agencies despite allegedly having knowledge of the identities and activities of those involved in the abduction.
In another allegation, the trio was accused of professing membership of Darul Salam, described by investigators as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a terrorist group that has been outlawed in Nigeria.
One of the charges stated: “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, on or about the 2nd June, 2026 at Suleja LGA, Niger State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an offence to wit: membership, when you professed to be members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru) a proscribed terrorist group in Nigeria.”
Abdulrazak Umar faces additional allegations separate from those filed against the other defendants.
The Prosecutors accused him of using a WhatsApp platform known as “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” to provide training and instructions to terrorist elements.
The Federal Government also alleged that he used the same platform to encourage members to engage in terrorist activities through his teachings and online messages.
In one of the counts, prosecutors stated: “That you ABDULRAZAK UMAR (A.K.A ABU KHALIFA/ABU KHALID), Male, adult of Sandako, Suleja LGA, Niger State on or about July, 2026 at Suleja LGA, Niger State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an offence in that you provided training and instructions to terrorists via your whatsapp group titled ‘The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace’.”
Beyond the terrorism-related allegations, Umar was also accused of engaging in illegal gold mining activities in streams located within the Chaza area of Suleja between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authorisation.
Security sources familiar with the investigation said the arraignment followed the conclusion of extensive inquiries conducted by the DSS.
The sources disclosed that investigators are still examining the roles of other individuals believed to be connected to the case.
According to one source, “Others are still being probed as the Agency is insistent on diligent investigation.”
