By RhemDy News
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, sentenced three suspects to life imprisonment for their role in the May 15, 2026 abduction of pupils and teachers at three communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The convicted persons include Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar.
The presiding judge, Justice Salim Ibrahim, ruled that their jail term commenced from the date of their arrest.
Prior to their sentencing, counsel for the defendants had pleaded with the court to sentence the convicts on liberal terms, stating that they were first-time offenders and had pleaded guilty.
The defence lawyer pointed out that this showed that they were remorseful of their actions, and all the counts they were charged with are not related to the kidnapping.
He added that the convicts were married men who have children and have aged parents who are dependent on them.
According to the counsel, sentencing them on liberal terms will give his clients a second chance at life.
However, while countering the appeal, the Counsel for the prosecution, argued that the convicts were aware of the people on the battlefield, and as true Nigerians, they should have reported their activities to the authorities.
After the charges were read to them, they pleaded guilty to membership of a proscribed terrorist group.
At their arraignment on alleged terrorism at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the three defendants also pleaded guilty to concealing information on the planning and execution of the abduction.
However, only the first accused person, Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid, pleaded guilty to counts 7, 8, 9 and 10, which bordered on training and passing instructions and inciting terror group members on a particular religious ideology.
The three accused persons were on trial by Department of State Services (DSS) on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, concealment of information, and terrorism-related offences.
According to the charges, the defendants, all from Niger State, were accused of knowingly withholding information about individuals linked to terrorist activities, participating in kidnapping, and using a messaging platform to facilitate terrorist training.
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