JUST IN: Oriire abduction suspects plead guilty, bag life sentences

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three suspects to life imprisonment for their involvement in the Oriire school abduction case in Oyo State.

The convicts were found guilty of concealing vital information about the masterminds behind the kidnapping.

They had earlier pleaded guilty to charges brought against them by the Federal Government, admitting their roles during court proceedings.

Delivering judgment, the court held that the defendants knowingly withheld critical information that could have led to the arrest of those responsible for the abduction in Oriire.

The three defendants had previously pleaded guilty before Justice Salem Ibrahim of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to charges related to concealing information about the perpetrators of the school kidnapping.

They also admitted to being members of Darul Salam, identified as an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group, Ansaru.

Furthermore, two of the convicts—Abdulrazak Umar and Shamsudin Adamu—pleaded guilty to additional charges, including providing training and instructions, as well as inciting members of their WhatsApp group, “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace,” to engage in acts of terrorism.

The sentencing marks a significant development in efforts to address insecurity and bring justice to victims of the Oriire abduction.