Nigerian Court Sentences Three to Life for Oyo Kidnapping

Three men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for concealing information about the masterminds behind a mass kidnapping at schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. The Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the judgment on Thursday, July 23, 2026, after the defendants pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges.

The convicts 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 admitted to concealing information about individuals identified as Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab, who prosecutors allege masterminded the kidnapping of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State between January and May. The court found that their failure to report this information to security agencies constituted a grave offence.

Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered that the life sentences take effect from the date of their arrest. During sentencing, defense counsel pleaded for leniency, arguing the men were first-time offenders, showed remorse by pleading guilty, and had family dependents. The prosecution...