The Federal Government has arraigned two alleged Ansaru commanders and three other suspects before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State and the alleged murder of two teachers.
The five defendants appeared before Justice Salim Ibrahim on charges bordering on terrorism, kidnapping and murder.
The court adjourned the case until 24 September for the commencement of trial and ordered that the suspects remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The two Ansaru commanders, Abubakar Abba Mahmuda, also known as Abu Bara’a, and Abubakar Abbas, also known as Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri, were arrested by the DSS in 2025, while the three other suspects were apprehended during operations that led to the rescue of the Oriire kidnap victims.
The fresh prosecution comes days after the two Ansaru commanders were sentenced to life imprisonment in a separate terrorism case after pleading guilty to charges relating to membership of a terrorist organisation.
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(Editor: Ada Ononye)
