The Department of State Services has filed fresh terrorism charges against five convicted Ansaru members linked to the May 15 attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The five men were brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, where they pleaded not guilty to a six-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026. The charge was filed on July 29 by DSS counsel M.E. Ernest.
The defendants named in court are:
- Mahmud Muhammad, also called Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, described by the DSS as Ansaru’s leader
- Abubakar Abbas, also called Isah Adam, Mahmud al-Nigeri or Malam Mamuda, described as deputy leader and chief of staff
- Abdulrazak Umar, also called Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid
- Yunusa Musa, also called Yunusa bin Musa
- Shamsu Adamu Sani, also called Abu Itisar
This new case comes shortly after the same men were convicted in separate trials for the same incident. On July 20, Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Muhammad and Abbas to life in prison after guilty pleas to a 32-count charge. Three days later, he gave life sentences to Umar, Musa and Sani after they also pleaded guilty to their roles in the abductions.
At Wednesday’s hearing, DSS lawyer Calistus Eze told Justice Salim Ibrahim that the charge had been amended to include all five defendants. The defence did not object to the reading of the amended charge. All five then entered not guilty pleas.
The prosecution asked that the defendants remain in DSS custody until trial. The defence opposed it, but the court overruled them. Justice Ibrahim ordered DSS custody but directed that the men be allowed unrestricted visits from their lawyer and two family members. The case was adjourned to September 25 for trial to begin.
According to the charge filed under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, the group attacked three schools in Oriire LGA on May 15. Seven teachers and 39 pupils were taken.
The DSS alleges that while in captivity, the attackers killed teacher Michael Oyedokun and circulated a video of the beheading. Another teacher, John Olaleye, also died in captivity.
The remaining five teachers and all 39 pupils were rescued after 56 days. Prosecutors further alleged that during negotiations, the abductors demanded the release of Muhammad and Abbas as a condition for freeing the hostages.
