Oriire Kidnap: DSS Re-Arraigns Five Suspects Over Abduction of 46 Pupils, Teachers

The Department of State Services (DSS) has re-arraigned five men accused of involvement in the May 15, 2026 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The defendants are also accused of complicity in the deaths of two victims following the attack on three schools in the area.

They were brought before the Federal High Court on a seven-count amended charge filed by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government.

The five men are accused by the prosecution of being members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), a proscribed terrorist organisation.

All five defendants pleaded not guilty after the amended charges were read to them in court.

The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the DSS legal team, asked the court to allow the trial to commence immediately in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The prosecution also requested that the identities of witnesses be protected during the proceedings, including allowing them to testify while wearing masks.

Defence counsel Bala Dakum did not oppose the applications, and Justice Salim Ibrahim subsequently granted the requests.

According to the amended charge, Mahmud Muhammad and Abubakar Abbas allegedly directed three other defendants, described by the prosecution as their “foot soldiers”, to abduct and kill Nigerians in different parts of the country if they were arrested.

The prosecution alleged that the order was linked to the abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area.

The defendants are also accused of involvement in the deaths of two victims identified as Oyedokun and Olaleye. The charge alleges that Olaleye was decapitated.

Another count alleges that the defendants failed to provide information to law enforcement or security agencies about an imminent terrorist act and planned kidnapping.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendants conspired with other individuals to abduct the pupils and teachers.

Three of the defendants — Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani — are separately accused of aiding the alleged kidnapping.

Mahmud Muhammad and Abubakar Abbas are also accused of concealing information about an alleged imminent terrorist act that resulted in the May 15 abduction and the deaths of two victims.

The charges were filed under various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The attack occurred on May 15 when gunmen reportedly invaded three schools in the Ahoro-Esiele, Yawota and Alawusa communities of Oriire LGA.

The affected schools were Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, L.A. Primary School in Esiele and Community Grammar School in Esiele.

Pupils and teachers were abducted during the attack and were held for 56 days before their release following a joint security operation.

The Federal Government and the military said no ransom was paid for the release of the remaining victims.

The re-arraignment paves the way for the trial of the five defendants to proceed before the Federal High Court.