The Oyo school abduction case has led to life sentences for three men convicted of terrorism-related offences by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Salim Ibrahim sentenced Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani after they admitted some of the charges.
According to Channels Television, the judge ordered the sentences to take effect from the dates of their arrest.
Umar is also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid. Musa uses the name Yunusa bin Musa, while Sani is also known as Abu Itisar.
The Federal Government brought a 10-count charge against the defendants. The charges covered terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.
Prosecutors linked the defendants to Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist organisation Ansaru.
They also accused the men of conspiring with other suspects to support the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
Oyo school abduction suspects plead guilty
All three defendants admitted that they concealed information about those who planned the school attack.
They also admitted their membership of Darul Salam.
The three men pleaded guilty to counts four and six of the charge but denied the remaining allegations.
Umar also admitted additional charges involving the training and instruction of members through a WhatsApp platform.
Prosecutors identified the platform as “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”
The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, led the prosecution team.
Following the guilty pleas, Oyedepo asked the court to sentence the defendants on the admitted counts.
Defence counsel pleaded for leniency and described the defendants as first-time offenders.
The lawyer said they had shown remorse by admitting some of the allegations against them.
He argued that the admitted offences did not directly involve carrying out the kidnapping.
The defence also asked the court to consider their family responsibilities.
According to the lawyer, the men had wives, children and older people who depended on them.
Prosecution opposes leniency request
The prosecution opposed the request and urged the court to impose appropriate punishment.
Oyedepo argued that the defendants knew the identities and activities of those involved in the attack.
He said they should have reported the information to security agencies instead of concealing it.
The prosecution maintained that their conduct violated provisions of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
After considering both arguments, Justice Ibrahim convicted the three men and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
Gunmen abducted 46 pupils and teachers
Gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15.
The attackers invaded Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.
They abducted 46 people, including 39 pupils and seven teachers, from the Esiele and Yawota communities.
The Assistant Headmaster of L.A. Primary School, Joel Adesiyan, died while attempting to escape during the attack.
The abductors also killed a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, while the victims remained in captivity.
The remaining pupils and teachers regained their freedom on July 10.
An intelligence-led military operation targeted the kidnappers’ hideouts inside the Old Oyo National Park.
The Nigerian Army later announced that troops rescued 44 pupils and teachers during the operation.
Security forces also arrested eight suspected members of the gang.
The Presidency said the government paid no ransom and made no concessions to the kidnappers.
The attackers had reportedly demanded N1 billion and the release of a detained commander.
Following the rescue, the Federal Government filed charges against Umar, Musa and Sani over their alleged roles in the attack.
The court’s judgment marks one of the first major convictions connected to the Oyo school abduction.
