Oyo abduction: Three face life jail as ex-general backs probe call

Three suspected terrorists accused of involvement in the abduction of 44 schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State are facing life imprisonment after the Federal Government filed a 10-count terrorism charge against them.

The charge, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, listed the suspects as Abdulrazak Umar, aka Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar.

This was as a retired two-star general, Ishola Williams, backed Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde’s call for an independent international investigation into the abduction and eventual rescue of pupils and teachers.

According to the charge sheet, the three defendants, alongside others said to be at large, allegedly conspired between January and May 2026 to commit acts of terrorism and kidnap pupils and teachers from schools in Oyo State.

One of the counts read, “That you, Abdulrazak Umar (a.k.a. Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (a.k.a. Yunusa bin Musa), Shamsu Adamu Sani (a.k.a. Abu Itisar), Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed and Ibrahim Khabab, now at large, between January and May 2026, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to commit acts of terrorism by kidnapping pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

In another count, the Federal Government alleged that the defendants “knowingly participated in the commission of terrorist acts by abducting the pupils and teachers and threatening to kill them unless a ransom was paid,” an offence punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act with life imprisonment upon conviction.

The Federal Government further alleged that the suspects belonged to a proscribed terrorist group and provided material support for terrorist activities.

They were also accused of concealing information relating to terrorism, inciting terrorist acts, engaging in cyber-related activities in furtherance of terrorism, and carrying out illegal mining to finance terrorist operations.

The Federal Government said the offences contravened various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and other extant laws.

The offences are punishable under Section 24(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Under the Act, a person convicted of hostage-taking or kidnapping as an act of terrorism is liable to life imprisonment where death does not result from the act.

The law also provides for the death penalty where death results from the hostage-taking or kidnapping. Two teachers abducted during the May 15 attack were later killed in captivity.

The case is expected to come up before the Federal High Court for the defendants to take their pleas.

According to the Nigerian Army, eight suspected terrorists were arrested during the operation that rescued the abducted pupils and teachers.

Ex-general backs Makinde’s call for international probe

Commenting on Makinde for UN probe, Williams said the governor’s request followed precedents established during previous national security crises.

Speaking on Friday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Williams said Makinde’s position was neither unprecedented nor inappropriate, recalling that international organisations were invited to scrutinise the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to him, criticism directed at Jonathan at the time, including calls for international involvement by members of the then opposition, established a precedent that made Makinde’s current demand legitimate.

“Makinde is right in making that call. And why is he right? Everybody remember that during the time of former president Goodluck Jonathan when the Chibok girls were kidnapped, they (opposition) were calling on everybody, international organisations and the rest. And the President was the head of that opposition party and he was criticizing Jonathan like hell. Now, what comes around, turns around. So, that’s what’s happening.

“So, in that way, Makinde is not doing anything that is new. He’s following a precedent,” he added.

Williams, however, pointed out that constitutionally, a state governor lacked the authority to formally invite the United Nations to investigate a security matter.

Instead, he suggested that internationally recognised independent organisations would be better positioned to conduct such an investigation.

“What I expected Makinde to do, even though he mentioned it, is to call Amnesty International, for example, that is well known all over the world, for doing independent and thorough investigation of the sort of situation Oyo State found itself,” he said.

Williams also questioned what he described as intelligence failures that allowed armed kidnappers to abduct dozens of schoolchildren without resistance.

He argued that the incident exposed weaknesses within Oyo State’s internal security structure, particularly at the grassroots level.

According to him, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Amotekun Corps, local intelligence networks and community leadership all had questions to answer over how such a large-scale operation occurred undetected.

Williams added that security officials and community leaders should be held accountable for failing to detect or prevent the mass abduction before it occurred and that accountability should extend beyond the kidnappers themselves.

“In normal circumstances, or in a serious country, the SSA to Makinde could have been sacked. The committee here, too, has to be punished, because that simple grassroots intelligence failed, for those kidnappers to be able to ride into his crew and just capture so many children and get them into the bush. How? Without Amotekun knowing? Without the village head knowing?”

The retired general insisted that the abductors could not have operated successfully without local collaboration.

He also expressed scepticism over official accounts of the rescue operation, saying more details should be made public to enable security experts to assess the operation and identify lessons that could improve responses to similar incidents elsewhere.

Williams urged security agencies to redirect greater attention to tackling insurgency in the North-East rather than deploying extensive resources to isolated kidnapping operations.

Williams also questioned the amount of manpower and resources deployed to secure the release of the Oriire victims, arguing that if similar intelligence and operational capacity were consistently applied in other conflict zones, particularly the North-East, Nigeria could make greater progress against insurgency.

“If they are using so much effort for the release of people, then you can imagine what they needed in the Northeast to be able to deal with the problem in the Northeast insurgent. And if the intelligence system has been working, like the one that they said the DSS have been bragging that they’ve been doing this, they’ve been doing that. Why can’t they do the same thing in the North?” he said.

The retired general further argued that community leaders should be held accountable whenever criminal groups repeatedly operated within their jurisdictions.

“See, somebody needs to tell community heads, if this sort of thing happens in your community again, you are in trouble. No more jokes with the communities because some communities, and some villages must be making money especially in a place like Katsina State,” he said.

IG commend officers

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, on Friday mourned Sgt. John Abena, who was killed during the joint security operation to rescue the victims, describing him as a hero who paid the supreme price in service to the nation.

Speaking while receiving police personnel who participated in the operation, the IG commended the officers for their bravery and professionalism.

“We just finished prayer for the officer we lost in the Oyo State school abduction incident. You remember I called all of you here some few weeks back where I advised you and told you you’ll be joining other sister agencies in a very serious national assignment.

“I’m happy you guys went and you did us proud. I got information from the commander of the operation on the parts you played. I cannot thank you enough for your national service,” he said.

Egbetokun disclosed that officers injured during the operation were responding well to treatment, assuring them that the Force would continue to cater for their welfare as well as that of the slain officer’s family.

“For the others who sustained injury, we are happy they are recovering very fast,” he said.

The police boss defended the Force’s practice of publicly announcing the deaths of officers killed in the line of duty, saying police personnel deserved to be honoured for their sacrifices.

“Police officers first and foremost are human beings. Police officers have emotions. Police officers feel it when a colleague dies,” he said, adding that such officers died while protecting Nigerians.

He also praised the synergy among security agencies involved in the rescue operation, insisting that no single agency could combat insecurity alone.

“We have made up our minds to work together, train together and fight this insurgency together,” he said.

The IG appealed to members of the public to support security agencies with credible information.

“We beg you. We plead with members of the public. If you see something, say something.

“Cooperate with the security agencies. The situation we have now is such that everybody must come together. Give us information. Assist us to nip it in the bud. Because the life you save may be your own,” he added.

Also speaking, one of the officers involved in the operation, Abdulrahman Mohammed, said members of the rescue team approached the mission as though the abducted pupils were their own children.

“We didn’t look at them as victims. We looked at them as our own children. Every step we took, we took those steps for the children.

“And this is what we are trained for. We are still going back to our various formations to continue our work.

“So, we are very happy that we carried out the successful operation. What is expected of us, we heard the cry and we answered the call,” he said.

Gunmen had attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, 2026, abducting 44 pupils, teachers and a toddler, while two teachers were later killed in captivity.

A multi-agency operation involving the Nigerian Army, Police, Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies resulted in the release of the victims on July 10 after weeks of intelligence-led operations.

During the rescue mission, some security operatives paid the supreme price, including Sgt. Abena. (Punch)