The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for their involvement in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Justice Salim Ibrahim handed down the judgment on Thursday after the three defendants—Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsudin Sani—pleaded guilty to several terrorism-related charges brought against them by the Federal Government.
According to the court, the convicts were found guilty of offences including concealing information about members of a terrorist network, belonging to the outlawed extremist group Darul Salam, which has been linked to the terrorist organisation Ansaru, as well as other terrorism-related offences under Nigeria’s anti-terrorism laws.
The prosecution told the court that the defendants played various roles in activities connected to the kidnapping operation, which targeted schoolchildren and their teachers, an incident that heightened concerns over insecurity and attacks on educational institutions in the country.
Although defence counsel appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy, citing the defendants’ guilty pleas and asking for a lighter sentence, Justice Ibrahim declined the request. The judge ruled that the gravity of the offences warranted severe punishment, stressing the need to deter terrorism and related crimes.
The court subsequently sentenced each of the three convicts to life imprisonment. It also ordered that the sentences run concurrently, with effect from the date of their arrest.
Reacting to the judgment, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and violent criminality.
Oyedepo said the judgment reflects the commitment of both the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to ensuring that those involved in acts of terrorism and the abduction of innocent citizens are held accountable. He added that the conviction sends a strong warning that individuals who aid, support or conceal terrorist activities will face the full weight of the law.
The verdict is expected to strengthen public confidence in ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to tackle terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, particularly attacks targeting schools and other vulnerable communities across the country.
