Oriire: FG arraigns two Ansaru commanders, three others over fresh terrorism charges

The federal government has arraigned five individuals accused of involvement in the beheading of two teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State.

Among those brought before a vacation judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja are two alleged commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Abubakar Abba Mahmuda Abu Bara’a and Abubakar Abbas, also known as Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri.

Although the two suspects were apprehended by the Department of State Services (DSS) in August 2025, the agency identified the three other defendants as foot soldiers who played roles in the Oriire school attack.

Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered that the defendants be remanded in DSS custody and fixed September 24 for the commencement of their trial.

The case follows an earlier judgment delivered on July 23, in which three individuals were sentenced to life imprisonment for their involvement in the kidnapping of students and teachers from a school in Oriire.

The convicted persons—Abdulrazak Umar (also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (also known as Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (also known as Abu Itisar)—had pleaded guilty to some of the charges filed against them by the Federal Government.

They were arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement, and illegal mining.

The defendants admitted to concealing information about the masterminds behind the school attack and also acknowledged their membership in Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.

While all three pleaded guilty to counts four and six, only Umar admitted guilt to additional counts seven, eight, nine, and ten, which alleged that he provided training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”

Umar was also accused of engaging in unlawful gold mining activities at streams in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026, contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

Despite their admissions, the convicts maintained that they did not physically participate in the Oriire school attack and pleaded not guilty to the remaining counts.

Justice Ibrahim adjourned proceedings on the outstanding counts—1, 2, 3, and 5—until September 16 and 17 for trial.

Meanwhile, the DSS has indicated its intention to appeal the life sentences, arguing that the court should have imposed the death penalty on the convicts.