The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced three terrorists linked to the horrific abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State to life imprisonment following their guilty pleas to multiple terrorism charges.
In a landmark judicial ruling aimed at deterring violent extremist networks, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted and sentenced three terrorists linked to the tragic kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to life imprisonment.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, July 23, 2026, Presiding Judge, Justice Salim Ibrahim, handed down the maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment alongside mandatory long-term custodial sentences after the convicts pleaded guilty to multiple counts in a 10-count terrorism charge instituted by the Federal Government.
The three convicts—Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani—all hail from the Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State and were apprehended following a intelligence-led operation by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Arraigned by the Director of Public Prosecutions for the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the defendants voluntarily entered guilty pleas to counts four and six of the charge sheet.
Additionally, the first defendant, Umar, admitted guilt to counts seven, eight, nine, and ten, which detailed his involvement in illegal mining and the dissemination of radical extremist ideologies via digital audio-visual devices.
During the formal review of facts, a DSS investigator testified that forensic and technical analysis established that the convicts were close operational associates of key perpetrators behind the Oyo State abductions and intentionally concealed critical actionable intelligence from national security agencies.
Firmly rejecting the defense counsel’s plea for lenient sentencing, Justice Ibrahim agreed with the prosecution’s argument regarding aggravating circumstances—specifically referencing the brutal murder of two teachers during the raid.
Consequently, the court sentenced all three men to life imprisonment on count six and 25 years on count four, while handing Umar additional life sentences on counts seven, nine, and ten, before adjourning trial on the remaining contested counts to September 16, 2026.
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