The Federal Government has arraigned two senior Ansaru commanders and three additional suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism, kidnapping and the beheading of two teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The five defendants were brought before Justice Salim Ibrahim on Wednesday following fresh investigations by the Department of State Services (DSS) into the deadly attack on schools in Oriire LGA.
The court adjourned the matter until September 24 for the commencement of trial and ordered that all five suspects remain in DSS custody pending further proceedings.
Fresh Charges Against Terror Suspects
According to the prosecution, the defendants are facing charges bordering on terrorism, kidnapping and the murder of two teachers who were abducted alongside pupils during the attack on schools in Oriire.
The two senior commanders were identified as Abubakar Abba Mahmuda (Abu Bara’a) and Abubakar Abbas (Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri), while the remaining three suspects were arrested during subsequent rescue operations linked to the same terror network.
Case Follows Earlier Convictions
The fresh arraignment comes barely a week after a Federal High Court sentenced the two Ansaru commanders to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences in an earlier case.
However, the DSS initiated fresh proceedings after uncovering additional evidence allegedly linking the suspects to the kidnapping and beheading of the teachers in Oyo State. Reports indicate the agency intends to pursue stiffer penalties.
Oriire School Attack
The attack on schools in Oriire LGA sparked nationwide outrage after dozens of pupils and teachers were abducted by terrorists.
A coordinated security operation involving the DSS and other agencies eventually secured the release of many victims and led to the arrest of several suspects connected to the attack.