Breaking: FG Arraigns 3 Over Oyo School Kidnap

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Jul 17, 2026 #Abdulrazak Umar, #DSS, #Federal Government, #Federal High Court Abuja, #Nigeria school kidnapping, #Oriire school abduction, #Oyo pupils rescue, #Oyo school kidnap, #Shamsu Adamu Sani, #terrorism charges Nigeria, #Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022, #Yunusa Musa

Pat Stevens/

The Federal Government has filed a 10-count charge against three men over their alleged involvement in the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The charges, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, accuse Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani of terrorism-related offences, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.

According to the charge sheet, Umar is also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Musa as Yunusa bin Musa, while Sani is also known as Abu Itisar. The three defendants are all said to be from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.

The prosecution alleged that between January and May 2026, the defendants conspired with three other suspects identified as Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab to orchestrate the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

They are also accused of facilitating the abduction and deliberately concealing information regarding the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the plot.

The defendants have yet to enter their pleas.

The charges follow the kidnapping of dozens of pupils and teachers from three schools in the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026.

The attack sparked nationwide concern and prompted a large-scale security operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.

On July 10, the Presidency announced that the victims had been rescued after 56 days in captivity through what it described as an intelligence-led, multi-agency operation.

The Federal Government said no concessions were made to the abductors during the rescue mission, while the Nigerian Army stated that the operation led to the safe recovery of the abducted pupils and teachers.

The filing of the charges marks the latest step in the government’s prosecution of suspects linked to the high-profile school abduction, with proceedings expected to continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja.