Nigeria charges three men for terrorism kidnapping in Oyo

The Federal Government has filed terrorism and kidnapping charges against three men for their alleged involvement in the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State earlier this year. The charges were filed on Friday, July 17, 2026, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The defendants are Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar. All three are from Suleja Local Government Area in Niger State. They face a 10-count charge that includes terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement to terrorism, and illegal mining.

According to the charge sheet, the trio allegedly conspired with three other individuals-Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab-to kidnap schoolchildren and teachers in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State between January and May 2026. The government alleges this conspiracy violated Section 261 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2022. The defendants are further accused of aiding the kidnapping operation and concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds, offenses...