RismadarVoice Reporters
September 17, 2026
The Department of State Services is expected to re-arraign five alleged members of the Ansaru terrorist group today, Thursday, over their alleged involvement in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The suspects are also accused of involvement in the subsequent killing of two of the victims following the May 15 incident.
The re-arraignment will take place before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count amended charge filed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, aka Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar.
The matter was initially scheduled for Wednesday but could not proceed after Muhammad, the first defendant, objected to representation by a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council.
A Deputy Director of the council, Akilaluyel Shettima, had appeared in court to represent the five accused persons before Justice Saliu Ibrahim.
However, Muhammad told the court that the defendants had previously engaged Bala Dakum as their lawyer and wanted him to continue representing them.
The prosecution counsel, Oyedepo, acknowledged that the defendants’ right to legal representation by counsel of their choice was constitutionally protected.
He also told the court that the DSS was committed to following due process and ensuring that the case was determined in accordance with the law.
Following the objection, Justice Ibrahim adjourned the proceedings until Thursday for the defendants to be re-arraigned.
The judge directed the accused persons to contact Dakum and ensure his appearance in court.
He further ordered the DSS to provide the defendants access to their preferred lawyer to enable them to prepare their defence.
The case stems from the reported abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire LGA of Oyo State on May 15, with two of the victims subsequently killed, according to the prosecution.
