The Federal Government has instituted fresh terrorism charges against two alleged Ansaru commanders and three suspected members of the group over the abduction of students and teachers, as well as the killing of two teachers during the 2026 school attack in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The five suspects were arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja and are facing charges of terrorism, kidnapping and murder.
Those standing trial are Abubakar Abba Mahmuda, popularly known as Abu Baraa; Abubakar Abbas, also called Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar; Yunusa Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani.
According to security sources, Abu Baraa and Al-Nigeri were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in August 2025. Their arrest allegedly prompted Ansaru fighters to launch failed rescue attempts later that year and in early 2026.
The prosecution linked the defendants to the May 2026 attack on schools in Oriire, where 46 people, including 39 students and seven teachers, were kidnapped. Investigators alleged that two teachers were later murdered while in captivity.
The abductees regained their freedom in July following a coordinated security operation involving the DSS, the military, the police and other agencies. During the operation, three additional suspects were apprehended.
Although some of the defendants had earlier been convicted in separate terrorism-related proceedings, the Federal Government has now opened a new prosecution focusing specifically on the Oriire kidnapping and the killing of the teachers.
Justice Ibrahim adjourned the case until September 24 for the commencement of trial and ordered that the suspects remain in DSS custody pending the hearing.
(The Whistler)