The Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned two alleged Ansaru commanders and three others before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the abduction and murder of teachers in Oriire, Oyo State.
The five defendants include Abubakar Abba Mahmuda Abu Bara’a and Abubakar Abbas, also known as Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri, who were captured by the Department of State Services in August 2025. Justice Salim Ibrahim remanded them in DSS custody and set September 24 for the start of their trial on a 10-count charge of terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement and illegal mining.
On July 23 the same court sentenced three other men to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to some of the charges. The convicts were identified as Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani, all linked to Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed Ansaru group.
The DSS has indicated it will appeal the life sentences, arguing that the court should have imposed the death penalty. The case stems from the beheading of two teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
