Oriire: FG Arraigns Five Ansaru Suspects Over Terrorism Charges

The Federal Government has arraigned five suspects, including two alleged commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, over fresh terrorism charges linked to the abduction and killing of two teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The suspects appeared before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they were accused of involvement in the attack that led to the beheading of the two teachers who were kidnapped from schools in the area.

Among those arraigned were Abubakar Abba Mahmuda Abu Bara’a and Abubakar Abbas, also known as Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri, who were identified as alleged Ansaru commanders.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had arrested the two men in August 2025. The agency alleged that the three other defendants served as foot soldiers who took part in the Oriire school attack.

Following their arraignment, Justice Ibrahim ordered that all five defendants remain in the custody of the DSS and fixed September 24 for the commencement of their trial.

The latest prosecution comes weeks after the same court sentenced three other defendants to life imprisonment over their involvement in the kidnapping of students and teachers from a school in Oriire.

On July 23, Justice Ibrahim convicted Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar, after they pleaded guilty to some of the charges brought against them by the Federal Government.

The three defendants were prosecuted on a 10-count charge involving terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.

They admitted concealing information about those responsible for the attack on the school and also acknowledged being members of Darul Salam, which prosecutors described as an affiliate of the banned terrorist group Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Biladis Sudan, widely known as Ansaru.

The defendants pleaded guilty to counts four and six of the charge. In addition, Umar admitted guilt to counts seven, eight, nine and ten, which accused him of providing training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group known as The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.

He was also accused of engaging in illegal gold mining activities in streams located in the Chaza area of Suleja Local Government Area between 2024 and 2026, contrary to the provisions of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

Despite their guilty pleas on some counts, the three convicts denied taking part directly in the attack on the Oriire school and pleaded not guilty to the remaining charges.

Justice Ibrahim has fixed September 16 and 17 for their trial on the outstanding counts.

Meanwhile, the DSS has indicated its intention to challenge the life imprisonment sentence, maintaining that the offences committed by the convicts deserved the death penalty.