The Federal Government has arraigned three suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The defendants—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—were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS). They are facing a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement, and illegal mining.
According to the charge sheet, the three suspects, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, allegedly conspired with three other individuals identified as Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA.
The prosecution also alleged that the defendants aided the execution of the abduction and failed to disclose information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot.
In addition, the Federal Government accused the trio of professing membership of Darul Salam, which prosecutors described as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a group proscribed in Nigeria under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Separate charges were filed against the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, who is accused of providing training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.” He is also alleged to have used the platform to incite members to commit acts of terrorism, contrary to the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
The final count alleges that Umar engaged in unlawful gold mining at streams in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority, contrary to the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
The charges include conspiracy to commit kidnapping, aiding terrorism-related offences, concealment of information, alleged membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation, providing terrorist training, incitement through electronic communication, and illegal mining.
A security source said the DSS has concluded its investigation into the three defendants, who have now been formally arraigned, while investigations into other suspects linked to the case are still ongoing.
The defendants are expected to answer the charges before the court. The allegations remain those of the prosecution, and the accused are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by the court.
The ten count charges read:
“COUNT 1
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. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and it is punishable under the same section of the Act.
COUNT 2
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 aided Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab in the kidnapping 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.
COUNT 3
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 aided Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab in the kidnapping 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.
COUNT 4
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 did commit an offence to wit: concealment, in that you had information about Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab as terrorists who are masterminds of the kidnapping of school children and teachers of Orire LGA of Oyo State but failed to report same to the relevant security operatives. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
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COUNT 5
That you ABDULRAZAK UMAR (A.K.A ABU KHALIFA/ABU KHALID), YUNUSA MUSA (A.K.A YUNUSA BIN MUSA) and_SHAMSU ADAMU SANT (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 did commit an offence to wit: concealment in that you had information about the kidnapping of school children and teachers of Orire LGA of Oyo State by Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab but failed to report same to the relevant security operatives to facilitate their apprehension. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
COUNT 6
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. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
COUNT 7
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 tited “The oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace”. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
COUNT 8
That you ABDULRAZAK UMAR (A.K.A ABU KHALIFA/ABU KHALID), Male, adult of Sandako, Suleja LGA, Niger State on or about July 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”. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(2)(g) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
COUNT 9
That you ABDULRAZAK UMAR (A.K.A ABU KHALIFA/ABU KHALID), Male, adult of Sandako, Suleja LGA, Niger State_on or about July at Suleja LGA, Niger State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an offence when you incited your members on your whatsapp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace” through your preachings to commit acts of terrorism. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
COUNT 10
That you ABDULRAZAK UMAR (A.K.A ABU KHALIFA/ABU KHALID), Male, adult of Sandako, Suleja LGA, Niger State, 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”.
