FG docks five alleged Ansaru terror members over Oriire kidnapping, killings

The Federal Government on Thursday re-arraigned five men accused of complicity in the May 15 kidnapping of pupils and teachers in the Oriire Local Government of Oyo State and the subsequent killing of two of the victims.

They were docked by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government on trial on a seven-count amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026.

The defendants accused of being members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group are 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).

Upon arraignment and the charges read out to them by the Registrar of the court, all five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them by the Federal Government.

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The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF) Mr Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, leading the DSS legal team for the prosecution, applied for immediate trial of the defendants in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

He also prayed the court that the names of witnesses lined up to testify in the trial be shielded and be permitted to wear masks to ensure their protection.

Following no objections from the Counsel to the defendants, Bala Dakum, the trial judge, Justice Salim Ibrahim granted the request of the prosecution Counsel.

…Details later