BREAKING: FG arraigns three men over kidnapping of Oyo school pupils, teachers

The Federal Government has filed a 10-count charge against three men over the kidnapping of pupils and teachers from a school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The defendants, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani, were charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday over alleged offences bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.

Court documents identified Abdulrazak Umar as also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa as Yunusa bin Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani as Abu Itisar. The three defendants are all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.

According to the charge sheet, the suspects allegedly conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May to kidnap the schoolchildren and their teachers in Oyo State.

The prosecution also alleged that the conspiracy contravened Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The Federal Government further accused the three men of aiding the abduction and concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite being aware of the kidnapping plot.

The case is expected to proceed before the Federal High Court in Abuja as the government continues its prosecution of those allegedly connected to the school abduction.