The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for their roles in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the sentence, ordering that it take effect from the date of the convicts' arrest.

The court convicted Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) on charges relating to terrorism and the school kidnapping.

The trio had been arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement, and illegal mining. They pleaded guilty to some of the charges while denying others.

According to the Federal Government, the defendants are members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru).

The prosecution alleged that the suspects, all from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, conspired with other alleged terrorists, including Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, between January and May 2026 to facilitate the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.

They were also accused of deliberately concealing information about the identities and activities of those who masterminded the attack despite having prior knowledge of the plot.

During the trial, the defendants admitted concealing information about those responsible for the school abduction and acknowledged belonging to Darul Salam.

All three pleaded guilty to counts four and six, while Umar additionally admitted to providing ideological training and instructions to members of the group through a WhatsApp platform titled *"The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace."* However, they pleaded not guilty to the remaining counts.

Following the guilty pleas, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants on the charges they admitted.

Counsel for the defendants appealed for leniency, describing them as first-time offenders who had demonstrated remorse by pleading guilty. He argued that the offences they admitted to were not directly linked to carrying out the kidnapping and urged the court to consider their family responsibilities, noting that they were married with children and had elderly parents who depended on them.

The prosecution, however, maintained that the convicts knowingly withheld information about terrorist activities and failed to alert security agencies, despite being aware of the planned attack.

After considering the arguments of both parties, Justice Ibrahim convicted the defendants and sentenced each of them to life imprisonment.

The convictions stem from the May 15 attack on Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA, where gunmen abducted 46 people, including 39 pupils and seven teachers.

During the attack, the Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, was shot dead while attempting to escape, while Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was later killed by his captors.

The remaining victims regained their freedom on July 10 after an intelligence-led military operation by the Nigerian Army targeted the kidnappers' hideouts in the Old Oyo National Park. The operation led to the rescue of 44 pupils and teachers and the arrest of eight suspected gang members.

The Presidency later confirmed that no ransom was paid and no concessions were granted to the kidnappers, who had reportedly demanded ₦1 billion and the release of a detained commander.

Following the rescue operation, the Federal Government filed a 10-count charge against the three convicts, accusing them of terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement, and illegal mining, culminating in the life imprisonment sentences handed down by the court.