UPDATE: DSS To Appeal Life Term Sentence of Three Oriire Abduction Convicts

The Department of State Services (DSS) says it will appeal the life imprisonment sentence of the three convicts for their role in the abduction of school pupils and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. 

The DSS, in a statement Thursday, said it is not satisfied with the verdict, arguing that the sentencing is not commensurate with the crimes committed in Oriire.

It cited the beheading of two teachers by members of the terrorist organisation involved in the abduction.

Justice Salim Ibrahim had on Thursday sentenced the men to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to belonging to Darul Salam, an affiliate of the Ansaru terrorist organisation; concealing information on the kidnapping; and inciting through religious ideology.

The convicts are Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar.

Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid, pleaded guilty to counts 7, 8, 9 and 10, which bordered on training and passing instructions and inciting terror group members on a particular religious ideology.

The convicted persons were put on trial by the DSS on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, concealment of information, and terrorism-related offences, contrary to Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

According to the charges, the defendants, all from Niger State, were accused of knowingly withholding information about individuals linked to terrorist activities, participating in kidnapping, and using a messaging platform to facilitate terrorist training.

The three defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment on Count 6. Abdulrazak Umar was sentenced to life imprisonment on Count 7; life imprisonment on Count 9 and a life sentence on Count 10.

Last week, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced two top commanders of the Ansaru terrorist organization who were also captured by the DSS. Mahmud Muhammad Usman (Abu Bara’a) and deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri (Mallam Mamuda), to life imprisonment.

The DSS said it will also appeal the judgement.