Five men accused of belonging to the proscribed Ansaru terrorist group have been re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has re-arraigned five men accused of belonging to the proscribed Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan, commonly known as Ansaru, over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
The defendants were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the May 15, 2026 abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The prosecution also accused some of the defendants of complicity in the killing of two victims.
The five defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
They were re-arraigned on an amended charge filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, on behalf of the Federal Government.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven-count amended charge.
According to the prosecution, the case relates to the abduction of about 46 pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The schools identified in the charge include Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School and L.A. Primary School.
The prosecution alleges that two of the defendants, identified as Mahmud Muhammad and Abubakar Abbas, ordered other members of the group to carry out kidnapping and killing operations.
The defendants are also accused of failing to disclose information about an imminent terrorist act and of conspiring with others to abduct the victims.
Three other defendants — Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani — were accused of aiding the alleged kidnapping.
The attack occurred on May 15, 2026, when gunmen invaded schools in communities within Oriire Local Government Area.
The victims were subsequently held in captivity before being released following a joint security operation. According to Channels Television, the remaining victims spent 56 days in captivity and the government and military said no ransom was paid for their release.
During the proceedings, the prosecution asked the court to protect the identities of witnesses and permit them to testify while wearing masks, citing security concerns. The court granted the request.
The defendants’ not-guilty pleas mean that the allegations remain matters for determination through the judicial process. No conviction has been entered against any of the accused.
The case forms part of the Federal Government’s broader prosecution of individuals accused of involvement in terrorism, kidnapping and attacks on educational institutions.
Reuters reported that the proceedings represent a significant legal case against suspected members of Ansaru, an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group that has been linked to kidnappings and other attacks in Nigeria.
The trial is expected to continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja.