Ansaru Terrorists Re-Arraignment: DSS Set to Dock 5 Suspects Over Oyo School Kidnap, Killings
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to re-arraign five suspected Ansaru terrorists tomorrow, Thursday, September 17, following a dramatic courtroom delay over their choice of legal representation.
The suspects face a 6-count amended charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026) filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).
The federal government alleges their direct involvement in the brutal May 15 kidnapping of pupils and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an attack that left two victims dead.
The accused members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group are:
- Mahmud Muhammad (Abu Bara’a / Abbas Mukhtar)
- Abubakar Abbas (Isah Adam / Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri)
- Abdulrazak Umar (Abu Khalifa / Abu Khalid)
- Yunusa Musa (Abu Yunusa Bin Musa)
- Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar)
Drama in Court Postpones Trial
The high-profile trial faced a sudden halt today, Wednesday, September 16, when the defendants rejected a state-appointed lawyer.
When Barr. Akilaluyel Shettima, a Deputy Director with the Legal Aid Council, stood up to defend them, the first accused person, Mahmud Muhammad, openly objected.
Muhammad told presiding Judge Justice Salim Ibrahim that they would only proceed if represented by their previous lawyer, Bala Dakum.
Justice, Not Persecution
The prosecution conceded to the request, noting that the choice of legal counsel is a strict constitutional right.
“The DSS is a law-abiding institution not interested in persecution but only interested in justice,” Oyedepo (SAN) told the court.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently shifted the re-arraignment to tomorrow, September 17. The judge ordered the suspects to quickly contact their lawyer to ensure he appears in court and explicitly commanded the DSS to grant the suspects full access to their legal team to prepare their defense.
