Oriire Kidnapping: DSS Files Abduction, Murder Charges Against 2 Convicted Ansaru Commanders, 3 Others

Five suspected members of the Ansaru terrorist organization, including two commanders of the group who were sentenced to life imprisonment last week, have been arraigned on fresh terrorism charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The two convicted Ansaru commanders were initially found guilty of conspiracy and other terrorism-related charges over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The Federal Government has now increased the charges against ABUBAKAR ABBA MAHMUDA and ABUBAKAR ABBAS to include kidnapping and the murder of two teachers who were among those abducted in the Oriire incident.

ABUBAKAR ABBA MAHMUDA and ABUBAKAR ABBAS were arrested in August 2025 by operatives of the Department of State Security Services, DSS.

The three others charged alongside the Ansaru commanders were said to have been arrested by security agencies during the rescue operation for the victims of the Oriire abduction inside a forest in Oyo State.

All five suspects were arraigned before Justice SALIM IBRAHIM of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who adjourned the case until September 24 for the commencement of trial.

Before then, Justice IBRAHIM ordered the defendants to be remanded in the custody of the DSS, pending their trial.