Three Sentenced to Life for Oyo School Kidnapping

On Thursday, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced three men to life imprisonment for their involvement in the kidnapping of school children and teachers in Orire Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State. Justice Salim Ibrahim convicted Abdulrazak Umar (a.k.a.

Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (a.k.a. Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (a.k.a.

Abu Itisar) after they pleaded guilty to several counts of a 10-count charge filed by the federal government. The court imposed life sentences for counts six and seven, while count four resulted in a 25-year sentence.

The defendants, who are from Suleja LGA of Niger State, admitted to concealing information about the masterminds of the kidnapping and professed membership in Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist group Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru). Their actions were deemed contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.