The Federal Government has filed a 10-count criminal charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against three men accused of participating in the abduction of pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The defendants, Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar, are facing charges bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.

According to the charge sheet filed by the Federal Government, the suspects allegedly conspired with three other individuals identified as Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May 2026 to plan and execute the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire LGA.

Prosecutors alleged that the accused knowingly concealed information about the identities, plans and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the operation.

The charge also accuses them of supporting terrorist activities and committing other offences connected with the kidnapping.

The defendants were equally accused of failing to report information about the alleged masterminds and the planned abduction to security agencies, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In another count, the federal government alleged that on or about June 2, 2026, the three men professed membership of Darul Salam, described in the charge as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.

In a separate charge, the federal government accused Umar of providing training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group named ‘The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace’.

He was alleged to have used the platform to incite members to commit acts of terrorism, an offence said to contravene provisions of both the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.

He was also accused of unlawfully mining gold in streams located in Chaza area of Suleja LGA between 2024 and 2026 without lawful authority.

The alleged offence was said to be contrary to section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

A security source said the suspects are expected to be arraigned next week following the conclusion of investigations.

“Others are still being probed as the agency is insistent on diligent investigation,” the source said.

The prosecution follows the successful rescue of all the abducted pupils and teachers after spending 56 days in captivity.

The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when armed attackers invaded three schools in the Ahoro-Esiele community of Oriire Local Government Area, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over school security.

Security agencies had earlier announced the arrest of several suspects and the elimination of some members of the kidnapping network during coordinated operations that led to the rescue of the victims.

The Presidency maintained that the hostages were freed through sustained intelligence-led operations by security forces without any compromise of national security objectives.