By Palang Paul
Three convicted Muslims terrorists have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja for their roles in the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
Justice Salim Ibrahim delivered the judgment on Thursday 23rd July 2026, ordering that the life sentences take effect from the date of the convicts’ arrest. The case stemmed from the kidnapping of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The convicts, 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, were prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information and related offences.
All three defendants pleaded guilty to belonging to a proscribed terrorist organisation and concealing information about the planning and execution of the abduction.
Abdulrazak Umar additionally admitted receiving terrorist training, transmitting operational instructions and inciting members of a terrorist group through the propagation of extremist Muslim religious ideology.
Before sentencing, defence counsel urged the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that the convicts were first-time offenders who had shown remorse by pleading guilty.
The lawyer also told the court that the men were married with children and had elderly parents who depended on them, urging the judge to give them an opportunity to rebuild their lives.
The prosecution opposed the plea, insisting that the convicts deliberately concealed intelligence on terrorist activities despite knowing those responsible for the operation.
The prosecution argued that the defendants had a legal duty to report information capable of preventing terrorist attacks instead of shielding members of a proscribed group.
According to the charge sheet, the convicts knowingly withheld intelligence on terrorist activities, participated in kidnapping operations and used a messaging platform to coordinate terrorist training and operations.
After reviewing the guilty pleas and the evidence before it, the court convicted the three men and sentenced each of them to life imprisonment.
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