ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men to life imprisonment following their involvement in the kidnap of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Presiding judge Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled that the life sentences take effect immediately from the date of the convicts' initial arrest.

The convicts were identified as Abdulrazak Umar (alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (alias Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (alias Abu Itisar).

The three defendants, all residents of Suleja Local Government Area in Niger State, were arraigned by the Federal Government on a 10-count charge encompassing terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement, and illegal mining.

During proceedings, the trio admitted guilt to key counts involving the concealment of information regarding the attack's masterminds and confessed to being members of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist organization Ansaru (Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan).

In addition, defendant Abdulrazak Umar admitted guilt to separate counts alleging that he provided instructions and tactical training to terrorist recruits via a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”

Following their guilty pleas, lead prosecution counsel and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants on the admitted counts.

Defence counsel pleaded for judicial leniency, arguing that the convicts were first-time offenders, showed remorse by pleading guilty, and were breadwinners for dependent elderly parents and children.

However, the prosecution firmly opposed the plea, asserting that as law-abiding citizens, the defendants were obligated to report terror plans to security agencies rather than actively concealing vital operational details.

Justice Ibrahim sustained the prosecution's argument, delivering a mandatory life sentence to deter future terror logistics and informant networks.