The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday re-arraigned five alleged leaders of the proscribed terrorist group, Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of about 46 pupils and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The defendants are accused of involvement in the May 15, 2026 attack, which allegedly resulted in the abduction of students and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in the area.
According to an amended charge filed by the DSS before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the incident also allegedly led to the killing of two victims, identified as Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun. The prosecution further alleged that Olaleye was beheaded.
The five defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
They each pleaded not guilty to the amended charges marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, which were read to them before Justice Salim Ibrahim.
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The prosecution alleged that Muhammad and Abbas instructed the other defendants, described in the charge as their foot soldiers, to kidnap and kill Nigerians in different parts of the country in the event of their arrest by the Nigerian government.
The DSS further alleged that the defendants carried out the plot in an attempt to compel the government to accede to their demands, resulting in the alleged kidnapping of the pupils and teachers in Orire Local Government Area.
The prosecution said the alleged offences contravened various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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Following the defendants’ pleas, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who is leading the DSS legal team, urged the court to allow the trial to commence immediately.
Oyedepo told the court that the prosecution witnesses were ready and available to testify.
However, the DPPF asked the court to protect the identities of the witnesses by allowing them to wear masks while giving evidence.
The defence counsel, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the application.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently granted the prosecution’s request, allowing the witnesses to testify while their identities are shielded.
Among the allegations contained in the amended charge is that Muhammad and Abbas allegedly ordered Umar, Musa and Sani to kidnap and kill innocent Nigerians in different parts of the country if they were arrested by the Nigerian government.
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The prosecution also alleged that all five defendants were responsible for acts of terrorism that resulted in the death of Deacon John Olaleye, whom they allegedly caused to be decapitated.
They were further accused of causing the death of Michael Oyedokun.
Another count alleged that the defendants had information concerning imminent acts of terrorism and the kidnapping of about 46 persons but failed to disclose such information to law enforcement or security officers.
The prosecution also accused Umar, Musa and Sani of allegedly aiding other individuals in the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State between January and May 2026.
The alleged offences were said to contravene Sections 2(3)(g), 16(1), 24 and 26(2)(a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The charges remain allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by the court.
