The defendants pleaded not guilty to seven terrorism-related counts as the court approved masked witnesses.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has re-arraigned five alleged members of the proscribed Ansaru terrorist group over their alleged involvement in the abduction of approximately 46 pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
The defendants appeared before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
They faced a seven-count amended charge linked to the May 15, 2026, attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Defendants Face Terrorism Charges
The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
The prosecution accused the defendants of terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The allegations include conspiracy to abduct pupils and teachers, aiding kidnapping, concealing information about an imminent terrorist act and complicity in the deaths of two victims identified as Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun.
The prosecution alleged that Muhammad and Abbas directed the other defendants to carry out kidnappings and killings if they were arrested, allegedly to pressure the government into meeting the group’s demands.
The defendants have not been convicted, and the allegations remain subject to determination by the court.
Court Approves Masked Witnesses
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the DSS legal team, requested the immediate commencement of the trial.
He also asked the court to protect prosecution witnesses by allowing them to testify while wearing masks.
Defence counsel Bala Dakum did not oppose the application.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently granted the request, allowing the witnesses’ identities to be protected during proceedings.
The case will now proceed to trial, where the prosecution is expected to present witnesses and other evidence in support of its allegations.
