The Department of State Services (DSS) re‑arraigned five men on Thursday in connection with the May 15 kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where two of the victims were later killed.
The defendants were charged on a seven‑count amended indictment, coded FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, filed by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government.
They are identified as Mahmud Muhammad (aka Abu Bara’a, Abbas Mukhtar), Abubakar Abbas (aka Isah Adam, Mallam Mahmuda Al‑Nigeri), Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar). All are alleged members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi‑Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group.
When the charges were read to them by the court registrar, each of the five defendants pleaded not guilty.
Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the DSS legal team, applied for an immediate trial under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. He also requested that the names of witnesses be shielded and that they be allowed to wear masks to protect their identities.
Justice Salim Ibrahim, following no objection from counsel Bala Dakum, granted the DSS counsel’s requests. Trial arrangements are now being put in place.
Further details will be released as the case proceeds.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
