FG Cracks Down on Terrorists in Oyo, Charges Abductors of School Children and Teachers

The Nigerian government has officially filed 10 terrorism charges against three men implicated in the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15. The three defendants, identified as Abdulrazak Umar (also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (also known as Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (also known as Abu Itisar), were charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday. The charges, brought by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, encompass a range of offenses including terrorism, conspiracy, aiding kidnapping, concealment of terrorist activities, membership in a proscribed terrorist organization, incitement to terrorism, provision of terrorist training, cyber-related offenses, and unlawful mining.

The prosecution alleges that the trio, all hailing from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, conspired with other individuals—Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab (who remain at large)—to orchestrate the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers between January and May. They are further accused of actively aiding the abduction and concealing crucial information regarding the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds, despite having prior knowledge of the plot. Additionally, the charges assert that the three defendants professed membership of Darul Salam, which is described as an affiliate of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organization in Nigeria.

Specific allegations have been leveled against the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar. He is 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.' Furthermore, Umar faces a charge of unlawfully mining gold in streams within the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and the period of the alleged offenses. The charges cite various sections of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

These charges come barely a week after a successful rescue operation led by the Nigerian military in collaboration with other security forces. This operation resulted in the rescue of 44 schoolchildren and teachers who had been held captive for 56 days following their abduction on May 15 from three schools in Yawota and Ahoro-Esinele, Oriire Local Government Area. President Bola Tinubu announced the rescue on July 10, stating that some kidnappers were killed and at least eight terrorists were arrested during the operation. However, it remains unclear if the three suspects now charged are among those eight arrests.

Tragically, the abduction resulted in fatalities. Two of the three abducted teachers were killed during their captivity: Michael Oyedokun was beheaded days after his seizure, and John Olaleye also lost his life while being held by the abductors. Additionally, three security personnel—Lieutenant F. A. Isaac, Private Silas Musa, and Sergeant Abena John Jerome—were killed in separate gun battles with the kidnappers during the rescue efforts.

In the wake of these events, the family of John Olaleye has made heartfelt appeals to the Federal Government and Governor Seyi Makinde. Olaleye's widow and elder brother have pleaded for assistance in recovering his remains for a dignified burial, even if only skeletal remains can be found. They also sought educational support for his three children and job assistance for the widow to help her cater for the family, highlighting the profound impact of his death on their lives.