The Department of State Services (DSS) has instituted fresh terrorism charges against five convicted members of the Ansaru terrorist group over the attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The defendants, including two alleged senior commanders of the group, were arraigned before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, where they pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge.
They are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, identified by the DSS as Ansaru’s leader; Abubakar Abbas, alias Isah Adam, Mahmud al-Nigeri or Malam Mamuda, described as the group’s deputy leader and chief of staff; Abdulrazak Umar (Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid); Yunusa Musa (Yunusa bin Musa); and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar).
The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, was filed on July 29, 2026, by DSS counsel M.E. Ernest under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The fresh prosecution comes days after the defendants were convicted in separate terrorism trials linked to the same attack.
On July 20, 2026, Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Muhammad and Abbas to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to a 32-count terrorism charge. Three days later, Umar, Musa and Sani were also sentenced to life imprisonment after admitting their roles in the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, DSS counsel Calistus Eze told the court the charge had been amended to include all five defendants. The defence raised no objection, and the amended charge was read.
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All five defendants pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution urged the court to commence trial and remand the defendants in DSS custody pending its conclusion. Although the defence opposed the application, Justice Ibrahim overruled the objection and ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody, while directing that they be granted unrestricted access to their lawyers and two family members each.
The case was adjourned until September 25, 2026, for trial.
According to the prosecution, the defendants participated in the May 15, 2026, attack on three schools in Oriire LGA, where 39 pupils and seven teachers were abducted.
One of the teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded in captivity, with the attackers allegedly circulating a video of the killing. Another teacher, John Olaleye, also died while in captivity.
The remaining five teachers and all 39 pupils were rescued after spending 56 days in captivity.
The DSS further alleged that the kidnappers demanded the release of Muhammad and Abbas during negotiations for the hostages’ freedom.
The latest charges mark another phase in the Federal Government’s prosecution of those linked to the Oriire school attack, reinforcing efforts to ensure accountability for every alleged offence arising from one of Nigeria’s most disturbing school abduction cases in recent years.