Three men have been sentenced to life imprisonment over their roles in the abduction of students and teachers in Oyo State.
The Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the judgment after the three defendants admitted to terrorism-related offences linked to the attack.
The ruling has attracted nationwide attention because it reinforces the government’s commitment to tackling terrorism and protecting schools from violent attacks.
Justice Salim Ibrahim sentenced Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa Bin Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty before the court.
According to the judgment, the three convicts admitted belonging to a banned terrorist group and concealing information connected to the planning and execution of the Oyo school kidnapping.
Before sentencing, defence counsel appealed to the court for mercy. He argued that the defendants were first-time offenders who had admitted their crimes and expressed remorse.
The lawyer also urged the court to consider their family responsibilities. According to him, the men were married with children, while their elderly parents depended on them for support.
However, the prosecution opposed the request for leniency. Prosecutors argued that the convicts deliberately failed to report information about terrorist activities despite knowing the danger posed to innocent citizens.
The prosecution maintained that their actions contributed to the planning and execution of serious crimes. Therefore, it asked the court to impose appropriate punishment in line with the law.
Justice Ibrahim agreed with the prosecution’s position and imposed life sentences on all three defendants. In addition, he ordered that the sentences should take effect from the date of their arrest.
Court records also showed that Abdulrazak Umar pleaded guilty to four additional terrorism-related offences. These included receiving terrorist training, passing operational instructions and encouraging members of the terrorist group through extremist religious teachings.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) had earlier arraigned the suspects on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, terrorism-related offences and concealing vital security information.
According to the charges, the three men, all from Niger State, knowingly withheld intelligence relating to terrorist activities. They were also accused of participating in kidnapping operations and using a messaging platform to coordinate terrorist training and operations.
Furthermore, investigators alleged that the communication platform was used to pass instructions and organise activities linked to the terrorist group.
The convictions are expected to strengthen ongoing efforts by Nigerian security agencies to dismantle terrorist networks across the country.
School attacks have remained a major security concern in Nigeria in recent years. Consequently, authorities have continued to intensify efforts to protect students, teachers and educational institutions from criminal groups.
