A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for their involvement in the kidnapping of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The convicts, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani, were convicted after pleading guilty to terrorism related offences filed against them by the Federal Government.
The prosecution said the men admitted concealing information about those responsible for the abduction and confessed to being members of Darul Salam, a group identified as an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist organisation, Ansaru.
Abdulrazak Umar also pleaded guilty to additional charges, including providing terrorist training and sharing extremist content through a WhatsApp group.
Following their guilty pleas, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), asked the court to convict the defendants. Justice Salim Ibrahim subsequently sentenced all three to life imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, the convicts conspired with other suspects between January and May 2026 to facilitate the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, in violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The Federal Government described the conviction as another significant step in its efforts to combat terrorism and prosecute those involved in the kidnapping of schoolchildren across the country.
