DSS To Appeal Life Sentences In Oyo School Abduction Case

The Department of State Services says it will challenge the life sentences handed to three men linked to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The agency said it wants a higher penalty because two teachers were beheaded during the abduction. The move follows NaijaTrend’s earlier report here on the Federal High Court judgment that sent the three defendants to life imprisonment.

Daily Post and Channels TV reported that the DSS considered the sentence too light for the offences. Premium Times separately verified the court judgment, naming the convicts as Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani.

The men were tried on terrorism-related charges, including withholding information on suspects linked to the kidnapping and membership of Darul Salam, which authorities describe as an Ansaru-linked group. Premium Times reported that they pleaded guilty to some of the charges before Justice Salim Ibrahim.

Channels TV said the DSS would appeal the judgment, while Daily Post reported that the agency argued that the killing of the teachers made the case one that should attract the maximum punishment.

Sources: Daily Post, Channels TV, Premium Times