Three suspects linked to the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Salim Ibrahim sentenced Abdulrazak Umar (alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (alias Yunusa Bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (alias Abu Itisar), ruling that their jail terms would take effect from the date of their arrest.
The three men pleaded guilty to charges of belonging to a proscribed terrorist group and concealing information about the planning and execution of the abduction. Umar also admitted to additional terrorism-related offences, including training, issuing instructions, and inciting members of the group.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had arraigned the suspects on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, terrorism, concealment of information, and facilitating terrorist training through a messaging platform.
Defence counsel urged the court to show leniency, arguing that the convicts were first-time offenders, had shown remorse, and were family men. However, the prosecution insisted they knowingly failed to report terrorist activities despite being aware of those involved.
