By John Azu
The Federal Government has filed a 10-count criminal charge against three suspected members of a terrorist network over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The charges, filed by the Department of State Services (DSS) before the Federal High Court in Abuja, border on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement to terrorism and illegal mining.
The defendants are Abdulrazak Umar (also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (also known as Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (also known as Abu Itisar), all said to be from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to the charge sheet, the trio allegedly conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Orire LGA, Oyo State, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
They are also accused of aiding the kidnapping operation and concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds, offences said to contravene Sections 26(2) and 16(1) of the Act.
The Federal Government further alleged that on or about June 2, 2026, the three suspects professed membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act.
In addition, the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, is accused of providing training and instructions to terrorists and using a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” to incite members to commit acts of terrorism. The offences are said to violate Sections 15 and 2(2)(g) of the Terrorism Act, as well as Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Umar is also facing a separate charge of engaging in unlawful gold mining at streams in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026, contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
One of the charges reads:
“That 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-May, 2026 at Suleja LGA, Niger State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court committed an offence when you aided Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab in the kidnap of school children and teachers in Orire LGA, Oyo State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 26(3) of the Act.”
The charge against Umar over illegal mining states:
“That you Abdulrazak Umar sometime between 2024-2026 at Chaza Area, Suleja LGA, Niger State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did commit an offence in that you engaged in mining of Gold at streams in Chaza area, Suleja LGA, Niger State without lawful authority. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, LN 2004 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.”
Sources familiar with the case said the defendants are expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja in the coming days.