Three Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Over Oyo School Abduction

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for terrorism-related offenses linked to the abduction of school children and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the maximum sentence after the defendants pleaded guilty to charges of terrorism concealment and membership in a proscribed group.

The convicts—Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (aka Yunusa Bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar)—were prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS). While facing a 10-count charge, they entered guilty pleas for counts 4 and 6, admitting they were members of the Darul Salam terrorist group, an affiliate of Ansaru, and that they deliberately concealed information about the school abduction plot carried out by their associates.

Additionally, the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, pleaded guilty to counts 7, 8, 9, and 10, which included providing training and instructions to terrorists, utilizing a WhatsApp group titled “The oneness of Allah is the foundation of peace” to propagate radical ideology and incite terrorism, and engaging in illegal gold mining in Suleja.

During the proceedings, defense counsel Mr. A.A. Shetima pleaded for leniency, emphasizing that his clients were first-time offenders who did not directly participate in the kidnapping. However, the Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, strongly opposed the request. He argued that the tragedy could have been averted had the convicts volunteered critical information beforehand, noting that security officers lost their lives during the rescue operation.

Justice Ibrahim agreed with the prosecution, ruling that severe punishment is necessary to deter criminal acts, and officially sentenced the trio to life imprisonment.