By Idriss LAWAL
The faces and identities of members of the terrorists who were behind the Oriire Abduction were revealed yesterday as the Nigerian Government filed a 10-count charge against three men of them: 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.
They were arrested in connection with the recent abduction of pupils and teachers of schools in Oriire Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State.
The charge was filed yesterday by the Department of State Services (DSS) before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Umar, Musa, and Sani are accused, among others, of engaging in acts of terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement, and illegal mining.
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The three defendants, said to be from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, are alleged to have conspired with one Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap school children and teachers in Oyo State, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
They are further alleged to have aided the kidnap of the school children and teachers, and to have concealed information regarding the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite knowledge of the plot, offences said to contravene Sections 26(2) and 16(1) of the Act respectively.
The three defendants are said to have, on or about June 2, 2026, professed membership of Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Act.
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Umar is particularly accused of providing training and instructions to terrorists and inciting members to commit acts of terrorism through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace,” offences said to contravene 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 further accused of engaging in unlawful gold mining at streams within the Chaza area of Suleja LGA between 2024 and 2026, contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act
The 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 punishable under the same section of the Act.
