Nigeria: Court Sentences Three Men Linked to Oyo School Abduction to Life Imprisonment

What the report says

AllAfrica, republishing Premium Times, reported that the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced three men connected to the May abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State to life imprisonment after they admitted guilt on some terrorism-related charges. Justice Salim Ibrahim delivered the ruling on Thursday against Abdulrazak Umar, also identified as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani.

According to the report, the federal government filed 10 charges against the defendants under laws including the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The men pleaded guilty to six counts in total. All three were sentenced to life imprisonment on a count alleging membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge as linked to the proscribed group Ansaru, and to 25 years on a count involving concealment of information about alleged masterminds of the kidnapping. Umar received additional life terms on counts accusing him of terrorist training and incitement, plus 20 years on another training-related count.

The convicts denied four remaining counts, including allegations of conspiracy, aiding kidnapping, and failure to report information about the planned abduction. The court adjourned the case to 16 and 17 September for trial on those pending charges. Premium Times cited the News Agency of Nigeria as saying the men were arrested by the State Security Service and are from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.

The case stems from the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Premium Times reported that 44 children and teachers were rescued after 56 days in captivity, while two abducted teachers and three security personnel were killed in incidents linked to the kidnapping and rescue operation.