By: Tunji Okunlola
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has handed down life sentences to three men convicted in connection with the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Presiding judge Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled that the sentences would be backdated to the defendants’ original arrest date, according to media reports.
A Plea for Leniency, Rejected
Ahead of sentencing, defense counsel asked the court for a measure of mercy, pointing out that the convicts were first-time offenders who had already pleaded guilty and shown remorse. The lawyer argued that the specific charges they admitted to were not directly tied to the kidnapping itself, and noted that the men were married with children and had elderly parents relying on them for support. On that basis, the defense asked the judge to consider a lighter sentence rather than the maximum penalty.
Prosecutors pushed back, arguing that the men knew who was behind the operation and, as law-abiding citizens, had an obligation to alert authorities rather than stay silent.
The Charges
The three defendants faced a 10-count charge covering terrorism, kidnapping, withholding information, incitement and illegal mining. According to the Federal Government, all three belonged to Darul Salam, a group affiliated with Ansaru (Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan), which is a proscribed terrorist organization in Nigeria.
Prosecutors alleged that the men, all from Suleja Local Government Area in Niger State worked with other suspects, including Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, between January and May 2026 to help carry out the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State. They were further accused of concealing what they knew about the identities and activities of those who masterminded the attack.
During the proceedings, the defendants acknowledged withholding information about the individuals responsible for the school attack and confirmed their membership in Darul Salam. All three entered guilty pleas on counts four and six of the charge sheet. One of them, identified as Umar, additionally admitted to providing training and instruction to group members through a WhatsApp group named after a phrase invoking the oneness of God as a foundation for peace. On the remaining counts, all three maintained not-guilty pleas.
Following the guilty pleas, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the prosecution, asked the court to proceed with sentencing on the counts the men had admitted to.
After weighing arguments from both sides, the court convicted the men and imposed life sentences.
The Attack and Rescue Operation
The case stems from a May 15 assault on Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota areas of Oriire LGA. Attackers seized 46 people in total; 39 students and 7 teachers.
Two staff members were killed in the attack: Joel Adesiyan, the assistant headmaster at L.A. Primary School, died while attempting to flee, and mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was also killed by the assailants.
The remaining captives were freed on July 10 after a military operation targeting the kidnappers’ hideouts in Old Oyo National Park. The Nigerian Army reported rescuing 44 students and teachers and arresting eight suspected gang members. Government officials stated that no ransom was paid and none of the kidnappers’ demands were met-the group had reportedly sought 1 billion naira along with the release of a detained military officer.
Following the rescue operation, authorities charged the three convicted men with the ten offenses that formed the basis of this trial, spanning terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement to illegal activity, and illegal mining.