Court gavel and DSS logo
Department of State Services (DSS) has re-arraigned five men over the May 15, 2026 kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The suspects appeared before the Federal High Court on a seven-count amended charge filed by the Federal Government.
The DSS alleged that the defendants are members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), a proscribed terrorist group.
They all pleaded not guilty after the charges were read before the court.
The prosecution also accused the suspects of involvement in the killing of two victims during the attack.
Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, asked the court to begin trial immediately in line with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
He further requested permission for prosecution witnesses to hide their identities and wear masks while testifying for security reasons.
Defence counsel, Bala Dakum, did not oppose the applications, and Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the requests.
According to the amended charge, Mahmud Muhammad and Abubakar Abbas allegedly directed three other defendants to carry out kidnappings and killings if they were arrested.
The prosecution said the alleged plot resulted in 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, while two victims, Oyedokun and Olaleye, were killed.
The defendants were also accused of concealing information about the planned terrorist attack and failing to report it to security agencies, while three of them were separately charged with aiding the kidnapping.
The victims were rescued after spending 56 days in captivity during a joint security operation, and the Federal Government said no ransom was paid as the trial continues before the Federal High Court.
