Oyo kidnapped 46: FG three charges suspects to Court

By Omolade Adegbuyi

The Federal Government has charged to court some of the brains behind the kidnapping of 46 students and teachers in Esiele, Oyo State.

The victims were release following the central government’s coordinated intelligence operations and tactical manoeuvres to led to the release after 56 days in detention.

The charges, filed on Friday before the Federal High Court in Abuja, border on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement to terrorism and illegal mining.

Abdulrazak Umar, defendants
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 — are all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to the charge sheet, the three allegedly conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Orire LGA, an offence the prosecution said contravenes Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The Federal Government also accused the defendants of aiding the abduction and concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot, contrary to Sections 26(2) and 16(1) of the Act.

In a separate count, prosecutors alleged that the trio professed membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge as an affiliate of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria, in violation of Section 25(1) of the Terrorism 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- 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.

COUNT 2
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-May, 2026 at Suleja LGA, Niger State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed an offence when you aided Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab in the kidnap of school children and teachers in Orire LGA, Oyo State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 26(3) of the Act.

There are eight other charges making the charges ten in total.