UPDATED: Court jails three for life over Oyo school abduction

A Federal High Court in Abuja has handed down life sentences to three individuals convicted of terrorism and kidnapping charges related to an abduction in Oyo State. Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani will serve life imprisonment, with the sentence backdated to their arrest.

The trio, identified as members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the terrorist group Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), were accused of conspiring in the abduction of school children and teachers between January and May 2026. They also faced charges of concealing information about the masterminds of the attack.

During the proceedings, the defendants admitted to their membership in Darul Salam and acknowledged concealing information about the perpetrators. They pleaded guilty to specific counts, including facilitating the abduction and providing instructions via a WhatsApp group. However, they denied involvement in other charges.

The prosecution urged the court to impose sentences based on the admitted guilt, while the defense sought leniency, citing the convicts as first-time offenders who had shown remorse and had family responsibilities. The prosecution countered that the convicts were aware of the plot and its consequences.

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The life sentence should take effect from the date of the convicts’ arrest.