The Department of State Services, DSS, has re-arraigned five alleged leaders of the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of about 46 people in Oyo State.
The defendants were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday over the Orire school kidnappings, which allegedly involved students and teachers from three schools.
According to the amended charge, the incident occurred on May 15, 2026, and allegedly resulted in the death of two people, including the reported beheading of Deacon John Olaleye.
The 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 or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
Each defendant pleaded not guilty after the amended charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, was read before Justice Salim Ibrahim.
The prosecution alleged that Muhammad and Abbas instructed the other defendants, described as their foot soldiers, to kidnap and kill people in different parts of Nigeria if they were arrested by the Nigerian government.
The DSS alleged that the instructions led to the kidnapping of pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery/Primary School and L.A. Primary School in Orire Local Government Area.
The amended charge contains allegations relating to the deaths of Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun.
The prosecution alleged that the five defendants caused Olaleye’s death by decapitation. It also alleged that they were responsible for Oyedokun’s death.
The charges were brought under various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The allegations also include failure to disclose information about imminent terrorist acts and the kidnapping of about 46 people to law enforcement authorities.
Three of the defendants were separately accused of aiding other individuals in the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Orire.
Following the defendants’ pleas, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who is leading the DSS legal team, requested that the trial commence immediately.
Oyedepo told the court that the prosecution’s witnesses were ready and available.
He also asked the court to protect the witnesses by allowing them to wear masks while giving evidence.
Defence counsel Bala Dakum did not oppose the application. Justice Ibrahim subsequently granted the request.
The case will proceed with the prosecution seeking to establish the allegations contained in the seven-count amended charge against the five defendants.
