The Federal Government on Thursday re-arraigned five men charged with complicity in the May 15 kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government, Oyo State, and the subsequent killing of two of the victims, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The five, said to be members of the proscribed terrorist group Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), 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).
They are, in the amended seven-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, accused, among other things, of conspiracy, aiding the commission of a terrorist act, concealing information from security agencies, and engaging in kidnapping and killings.
The five defendants pleaded not guilty when a court official read the charge to them.
After their not guilty plea, lead prosecuting lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), applied to commence the trial under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Oyedepo also applied to conceal the identities of witnesses the prosecution would call by permitting them to wear masks to ensure their protection.
The defendants’ lawyer, Bala Dakum, did not object to the prosecution’s request, after which Justice Salim Ibrahim granted it and ordered the trial to commence.