The Department of State Services on Thursday, September 17, 2026, re-arraigned five suspected members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, also known as Ansaru, over the abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers in Oriire local government area of Oyo state.
The defendants — Mahmud Muhammad, aka Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, aka Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, aka Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar — were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a seven-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026.
The federal government, through the DSS, accused the defendants of terrorism-related offences, including conspiracy to abduct about 46 people, aiding the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers, concealing information about an imminent terrorist attack and causing the deaths of two victims.
The victims identified in the charge were Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.
The prosecution alleged in count one that Muhammad and Abbas ordered the other three defendants, whom it described as their “foot soldiers” in Ansaru, to abduct and kill Nigerians in different parts of the country if they were arrested by the government.
According to the charge, the order led to the abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire.
In count two, the prosecution claimed that the defendants committed an act of terrorism by causing the death of Olaleye through decapitation.
The defendants were also accused of failing to disclose information about an imminent terrorist act and the planned abduction to law enforcement or security agencies.
In count five, the federal government claimed that the defendants conspired with three other suspects — Muhammed Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab — and others still at large to abduct about 46 pupils and teachers in Oriire.
Umar, Musa and Sani were separately accused of aiding the alleged abduction, while Muhammad and Abbas were accused in count seven of knowingly concealing information about the planned terrorist attack that allegedly resulted in the May 15, 2026 abduction and deaths of Oyedokun and Olaleye.
The offences were said to contravene various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven counts after the charges were read to them.
The director of public prosecutions of the federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the DSS legal team, subsequently applied for the immediate commencement of trial in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Oyedepo also asked the court to protect the identities of prosecution witnesses and allow them to testify while wearing masks, citing security concerns.
Counsel for the defendants, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the application.
Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the prosecution’s request, after which the court commenced arrangements for the full-scale trial.
The case was adjourned until Friday, September 18, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
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