The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for their roles in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Justice Salim Ibrahim delivered the judgment, ordering that the sentence take effect from the date of their arrest. The convicts, Abdulrazak Umar (Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar), were found guilty on terrorism-related charges linked to the kidnapping.
The trio, arraigned on a 10-count charge, admitted to some offences including concealment of information and membership of Darul Salam, a group affiliated with the proscribed Ansaru sect. Umar further pleaded guilty to providing training via a WhatsApp platform titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.” They denied other counts, including direct involvement in the abduction.
Prosecutors alleged the men conspired with others between January and May 2026 to facilitate the kidnapping of 46 people, 39 pupils and seven teachers, from schools in Esiele and Yawota communities. During the raid, Assistant Headmaster Joel Adesiyan and Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun were killed.
The defence pleaded for leniency, describing the men as remorseful first-time offenders with family responsibilities. However, the prosecution argued they knowingly concealed information about the attack and failed to alert authorities.
Justice Ibrahim, after weighing submissions, convicted them under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and imposed life sentences.
The victims were eventually rescued on July 10 in a military operation at Old Oyo National Park. The Presidency confirmed no ransom was paid, despite kidnappers demanding ₦1 billion and the release of a detained commander.