FG Arraigns Ansaru Commanders, 3 Others Over Oyo School Kidnap, Murder of Teachers
The Federal Government has arraigned two senior commanders of the proscribed Ansaru terrorist group and three other suspected members before the Federal High Court in Abuja on fresh charges bordering on terrorism, kidnapping and the murder of two teachers abducted during the 2026 school attack in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The five suspects were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Salim Ibrahim.
Those standing trial include alleged Ansaru commanders Abubakar Abba Mahmuda, also known as Abu Bara’a, and his deputy, Abubakar Abbas, alias Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri, alongside three suspected associates identified as Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani.
The two senior commanders were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in August 2025 during separate intelligence-led operations.
Security sources said following their arrest, the Ansaru group made two unsuccessful attempts to secure their release—first in December 2025 and again in February 2026. The attempts were reportedly foiled after the DSS intercepted intelligence on the planned operations and alerted the appropriate security authorities, enabling security agencies to frustrate the rescue missions.
On May 15, 2026, suspected Ansaru terrorists attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area, abducting 46 people comprising 39 students and seven teachers.
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According to security sources, the abductors allegedly sought to pressure the government into releasing the detained commanders. During the period of captivity, two of the kidnapped teachers were reportedly killed.
A joint security operation involving the DSS, the Nigerian military, the Police and other security agencies rescued the remaining hostages on July 10, 2026, after storming the terrorists’ forest hideout.
The operation also led to the arrest of Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani, who were alleged to have participated in the kidnapping operation.
The three suspects had earlier, on July 23, pleaded guilty to charges relating to concealing information about the Oriire school abduction and membership of the proscribed Darul Salam/Ansaru terrorist group. They were subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.
Similarly, Abu Bara’a and Al-Nigeri were last week sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to charges in a 32-count information relating to membership of a terrorist organisation and other terrorism-related offences.
However, following those convictions, the DSS initiated fresh criminal proceedings against the five suspects over their alleged roles in the Oriire school abduction and the killing of two teachers.
Justice Ibrahim adjourned the case until September 24, 2026, for the commencement of trial and ordered that all five defendants remain in the custody of the Department of State Services pending further proceedings.
By PRNigeria
