The Federal Government has arraigned three men before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The defendants — Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani — are facing a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement and illegal mining.

The charges were filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday.

According to TVC News, Umar is also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Musa as Yunusa bin Musa, and Sani as Abu Itisar. All three are from Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.

The prosecution alleged that the three defendants conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab between January and May to carry out the abduction of the pupils and teachers in Oyo State. It added that the alleged offence violated Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The Federal Government further accused the defendants of facilitating the kidnapping and deliberately concealing information about the identities and activities of the alleged masterminds despite having prior knowledge of the planned attack.

The arraignment comes about a week after the abducted pupils and teachers from Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota schools regained their freedom.

Tribune Online recalls that 39 pupils and seven teachers were abducted on May 15 after bandits attacked Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota. The attack also claimed the lives of a teacher and a commercial motorcyclist.