The federal government on Friday filed charges against three suspected terrorists over their alleged involvement in the recent kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The three men are Abdulrazak Umar (a.k.a. Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (a.k.a. Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (a.k.a. Abu Itisar).

The defendants were charged with a 10-count charge of terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.

The suspects, who are all from Suleja LGA of Niger State, were alleged to have conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, between January and May 2026, to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

They were further alleged to have aided the kidnapping of the school children and teachers, and to have concealed information regarding the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite knowledge of the plot, contrary to Sections 26(2) and 16(1) of the Act, respectively.

The federal government stated that on or about June 2, the three suspects professed membership of Darul Salam, described as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria, contrary to Section 25(1) of the Act.

In separate counts, the first defendant, Mr Umar, was specifically accused of providing training and instructions to terrorists and inciting members to commit acts of terrorism through a WhatsApp group titled, “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”

The offence is said to contravene the provisions of Sections 15 and 2(2)(g) of the Terrorism Act as well as Section 18 of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

(NAN)