Three Face Trial Over Oriire School Abductions

The arraignment marks the formal commencement of criminal proceedings, during which the defendants are expected to take their pleas before the court issues further directions on the trial.

The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign three suspects before the Federal High Court on Wednesday over their alleged roles in the abduction of students from a school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The defendants — Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar — will be docked on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, concealment of information, and terrorism-related offences.

According to the charge, the three suspects, all natives of Niger State, are accused of knowingly withholding intelligence on individuals linked to terrorist activities, participating in the school abductions, and using a messaging platform to facilitate terrorist training.

The arraignment marks the formal commencement of criminal proceedings, during which the defendants are expected to take their pleas before the court issues further directions on the trial.

The DSS has yet to make further public comments on the case.

Details later.