From Victor osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has filed a 10-count terrorism charge against three suspected Ansaru-linked members, accused of masterminding the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The charges relate to the abduction of 39 pupils and seven teachers, who were rescued last week after spending 56 days in captivity following a sustained military and intelligence operation
The defendants, including 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), were charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja over offences under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
According to the 10-count charge, the suspects, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, allegedly conspired with three other suspected terrorists (Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab) between January and May 2026 to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The prosecution alleged that the conspiracy violated Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The charge further accused the three suspects of actively aiding the execution of the abduction by supporting the alleged masterminds, contrary to Section 26(2) of the Act.
Court documents also alleged that the defendants deliberately concealed intelligence regarding the identities and activities of the suspected terrorists despite having prior knowledge of the planned abduction, offences punishable under Section 16(1) of the Terrorism Act.
The three suspects were also accused of professing membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge sheet as an affiliate of Jamaatu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a terrorist organisation proscribed in Nigeria.
According to prosecutors, the suspects openly declared themselves members of the group on or about June 2, 2026, an offence punishable under Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Separate counts were preferred against the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, accusing him of providing terrorist training and operational instructions through a WhatsApp platform titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”
The prosecution alleged that Umar used the platform to train and indoctrinate individuals for terrorist activities, contrary to Section 15 of the Terrorism Act.
He was also accused of using extremist sermons on the WhatsApp group to incite members to commit acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Beyond the terrorism-related allegations, prosecutors accused Umar of engaging in unlawful gold mining at streams located in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority.
The alleged offence was brought under Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
A security source familiar with the case disclosed that the three suspects would be produced before the Federal High Court next week following the conclusion of investigations.
The source added that investigations into other suspected members of the network were still ongoing.
“Others are still being probed as the agency is insistent on diligent investigation,” the source said.
