Oyo School Kidnap: DSS Re-Arraigns Five Suspected Terrorists, Defendants Plead Not Guilty


 

By Abdullahi Musa 


The Department of State Services has re-arraigned five men accused of involvement in the May 15, 2026 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.


The defendants were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a seven-count amended charge filed by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges. 


The accused persons are Mahmud Muhammad, Abubakar Abbas, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani. The prosecution alleged that they were members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation. 


According to the amended charge, the defendants were allegedly involved in the abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire LGA and were also accused of complicity in the deaths of two victims.


The prosecution further alleged that some of the defendants conspired to kidnap the victims, aided the abduction and failed to disclose information about an imminent terrorist act to security agencies.


The charges were filed under provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. 


The May 15 attack targeted schools in the Ahoro-Esiele, Yawota and Alawusa communities of Oriire Local Government Area. The abducted pupils and teachers were later released after spending 56 days in captivity following a joint security operation. 


During Thursday’s proceedings, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the DSS legal team, applied for the immediate commencement of trial.


He also requested that witnesses be allowed to testify while wearing masks to protect their identities. Defence counsel, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the applications, and Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the requests. 


The case is expected to continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja. 

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