Oriire Abduction: FG Arraigns Ansaru Commander, Abu Bara’a, 4 Others

The Federal Government on Wednesday arraigned five persons before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over allegations of terrorism, kidnapping and murder linked to an attack in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The defendants include two alleged commanders of the Ansaru group, Abubakar Abba Mahmuda, also known as Abu Bara’a, and Abubakar Abbas, also known as Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri, who were arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, in August 2025.

Three other defendants arraigned alongside them are Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani.

According to court filings and security sources, on May 15, 2026, armed men attacked schools in Oriire LGA, Oyo State, and abducted 46 persons comprising 39 students and 7 teachers. Authorities allege the abduction was connected to demands for the release of detained suspects.

On July 10, 2026, a joint operation by the DSS, military, police and other security agencies rescued the abducted persons from a forest location. During the operation, the three additional suspects were also apprehended by DSS operatives.

On July 23, the three men — Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani — pleaded guilty to charges of concealing information related to the Oriire incident and membership of a proscribed organization. The court handed down life imprisonment sentences.

In a separate proceeding last week, the same court sentenced Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and his alleged deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to counts relating to membership of a terrorist organization.

On Wednesday, the DSS presented fresh charges against all five defendants relating to terrorism, kidnapping and murder in connection with the Oriire incident.

Justice Salim adjourned the matter to September 24 for commencement of trial. He ordered that the five suspects remain in DSS custody pending trial.

Security agencies said investigations into the incident are ongoing, and that efforts to prevent similar attacks continue across the country.