Three Men Charged with Terrorism for Kidnapping Schoolchildren in Oyo

The Nigerian government has charged three men with 10 counts of terrorism. This follows the kidnapping of pupils and teachers on 15 May in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The three suspects are Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa, known as Yunusa bin Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also called Abu Itisar. The charges were filed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The charges include terrorism, conspiracy, aiding kidnapping, and hiding terrorist activities. Other allegations against the suspects involve being part of a banned terrorist group, incitement to terrorism, providing terrorist training, cyber-related crimes, and illegal mining.

The prosecution claims that the three men, who all come from Suleja Local Government Area in Niger State, worked with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab, who are still on the run. They are accused of kidnapping the pupils and teachers between January and May.

The government says the suspects helped with the kidnapping and kept quiet about the identities and activities of the alleged leaders, even though they knew about the plan.

The suspects are also accused of being members of Darul Salam, which is linked to Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a banned terrorist group in Nigeria. There are special accusations against Mr Umar. He is said to have given training and instructions to terrorists and encouraged members to commit acts of terrorism through a WhatsApp group called The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.

Mr Umar is also accused of illegal gold mining in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026. These charges come just a week after the Nigerian military and other security forces rescued 44 schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped from three schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esinele in Oriire Local Government Area.

The rescue operation ended the 56-day ordeal of the victims, who were taken on 15 May. Sadly, two of the three abducted teachers were killed during their captivity. One of them, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded shortly after being taken. The other, a pastor named John Olaleye, was also killed while being held.

Three security personnel lost their lives during the rescue operation in different gun battles with the kidnappers. They are Lieutenant F. A. Isaac of the Nigerian Army, Private Silas Musa of the 81 Battalion, and Sergeant Abena John Jerome of the Nigeria Police Force.

After the successful rescue, President Bola Tinubu stated that some kidnappers were killed in the operation and that at least eight of the terrorists were arrested. It is still unclear if the suspects charged are among the eight arrested, according to the president.

In the first count, the prosecution states that the three defendants conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area between January and May, which goes against Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Counts two and three claim they assisted the three suspects in carrying out the abduction, which violates Section 26(2) of the Act. In count four, the prosecution says the defendants hid information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite knowing they were involved in the kidnapping.

Count five accuses them of not reporting what they knew about the planned abduction to security agencies to help arrest the suspects. Count six claims the three defendants were members of Darul Salam, linked to the banned terrorist group Ansaru, which goes against Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Counts seven and eight are specific to Mr Umar. The prosecution says he gave training and instructions to terrorists through the WhatsApp group, which is against Sections 15 and 2(2)(g) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. In count nine, Mr Umar is accused of using the same WhatsApp group to encourage members to commit acts of terrorism, which breaches Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

The last count accuses Mr Umar of illegally mining gold in streams in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026, which violates Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

On 15 May, gunmen seized 39 pupils and six teachers from two primary schools and one secondary school in Oriire Local Government Area. One teacher was killed during this attack. The incident led to a joint security operation after President Bola Tinubu ordered them to ensure the victims were released.

On 10 July, the Presidency announced that all the kidnapped pupils and teachers had been rescued after 56 days in captivity. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the rescue came after a coordinated security operation that also led to the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers.