Court Sentences Three To Life Over Oyo School Abduction

Three men linked to the Oyo school abduction case have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the sentence after Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani pleaded guilty to counts including membership of Darul Salam and concealing information about the attack. They denied the remaining counts.

The sentencing follows an earlier NaijaTrend report here on the charges in the case. The case is connected to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Prosecutors said the defendants belonged to Darul Salam, described in the charge as an affiliate of Ansaru, a proscribed terrorist organisation.

Punch, Vanguard, Daily Post and Channels TV all reported the sentencing on Thursday. The defendants were arraigned on a 10-count charge covering terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.

The court heard that the three men admitted concealing information about those behind the school attack and acknowledged membership of Darul Salam. Umar also admitted additional counts linked to training and instructions allegedly shared through a WhatsApp platform.

Defence lawyers asked the court for leniency, saying the men were first-time offenders and had shown remorse by pleading guilty. Prosecutors argued that they knew about the activities of those involved in the attack and should have reported the information to security agencies.

The judge ruled that the life sentence should run from the date of their arrest. Other counts in the case remain part of the wider prosecution arising from the abduction.

Sources: Punch, Vanguard, Daily Post, Channels TV