The Department of State Services on Wednesday arraigned five suspected members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, popularly known as Ansaru, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the May 15 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and the alleged killing of two victims.
The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, alias Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
They pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on terrorism, conspiracy, aiding terrorism and concealment of information.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, the Federal Government alleged that Muhammad and Abbas ordered members of the Ansaru terrorist group to kidnap and kill victims across the country if they were arrested, with the aim of compelling the government to accede to their demands.
Part of the first count read, “That you… sometime between 2025 and 2026, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did order your foot soldiers of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group… that in the event of your arrest by the government, to kidnap and kill victims in different parts of the country to compel the government to accede to your demands and in obedience to your order… and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 24(2)(b) of the same Act.”
