The Department of State Services, DSS, has re-arraigned five alleged leaders of the proscribed Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, Ansaru, over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of about 46 students and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The defendants were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a seven-count amended charge relating to alleged terrorism offences connected with the May 15, 2026 attack.
They 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 and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
Each defendant pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before Justice Salim Ibrahim.
According to the amended charge, the attack involved the alleged abduction of students and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Orire.
The prosecution alleged that the incident was linked to instructions by Muhammad and Abbas, whom it described as senior members of the group, to other defendants to kidnap and kill people in different parts of the country if they were arrested.
The DSS further alleged that the actions were intended to pressure the Nigerian government into meeting their demands.
The prosecution also accused the defendants of causing the deaths of Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun. It alleged that Olaleye was decapitated, while Oyedokun was also killed in circumstances connected with the alleged terrorist activities.
Another count accused the defendants of failing to disclose information about imminent terrorist acts and the alleged kidnapping of about 46 people to law enforcement or security authorities.
The charges were filed under provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including sections relating to terrorism, failure to disclose information and aiding terrorist activities.
Following the defendants’ pleas, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who is leading the DSS legal team, asked the court to commence the trial immediately.
Oyedepo told the court that the prosecution witnesses were ready and available to testify.
He also asked the court to protect the identities of the witnesses by allowing them to appear in masks while giving evidence. The application was not opposed by defence counsel, Bala Dakum, and Justice Ibrahim granted the request.
The prosecution further alleged that three of the defendants, Umar, Musa and Sani, aided other alleged members of the group in the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Orire between January and May 2026.
The case will now proceed with the prosecution expected to present its evidence in support of the allegations against the five defendants.
