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Oyo Schools Kidnappers: Court Sentences Three To Life Imprisonments
The convicts — Abdulrazak Umar (a.k.a. Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (a.k.a. Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (a.k.a. Abu Itisar) — were convicted after pleading guilty to several terrorism-related charges.
Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for their roles in the kidnapping of school children and teachers at Oriire Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State.
The convicts — Abdulrazak Umar (a.k.a. Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (a.k.a. Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (a.k.a. Abu Itisar) — were convicted after pleading guilty to several terrorism-related charges.
The defendants, all from Suleja LGA in Niger State, were arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information, incitement, and illegal mining.
They admitted to concealing information about the masterminds of the school attack and acknowledged their membership of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the proscribed terrorist organisation Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladis Sudan (Ansaru).
While the trio maintained their innocence on Counts 1, 2, 4, and 5, they pleaded guilty to other counts. Only the first defendant, Umar, further pleaded guilty to Counts 7, 8, 9, and 10, which alleged that he provided training and instructions to terrorists through a WhatsApp group titled “The Oneness of Allah is the Foundation of Peace.”
The prosecution alleged that between January and May 2026, the defendants conspired with Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab to kidnap the school children and teachers in Oyo State, in violation of Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
They were also accused of aiding the kidnapping and concealing information about the masterminds, contrary to Sections 26(2) and 16(1) of the Act.
During proceedings, the prosecution urged the court to convict the defendants on the counts to which they pleaded guilty, in line with Section 274 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, and to fix a date for the trial of the remaining counts.
Defence counsel requested that sentencing on the guilty counts be deferred until the conclusion of the trial on the contested charges. The prosecution opposed this, arguing that the law requires immediate conviction and sentencing on counts where guilty pleas were entered.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reviewed the facts of the case. The prosecution called its first witness, an investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS) identified by the pseudonym AAA. The witness testified that the defendants made voluntary extra-judicial statements in the presence of their lawyer, which were electronically recorded and endorsed by the defendants and their counsel. The recordings were tendered in evidence.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently convicted and sentenced the three defendants to life imprisonment on the counts to which they pleaded guilty.
The matter has been adjourned to September 16 and 17, 2026, for the continuation of trial on the remaining counts.
News
MultiChoice Says Subscribers To Now Choose From Four DStv, GOtv Packages
Under the new structures scheduled to take effect on November 5, 2026, DStv subscribers will choose from four packages: Starter, Select, Sports and Premium, while GOtv customers will have Easy, Starter, Select and Sports.
Lagos| Pic: Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Kemi Omotosho, flank by other executives after the press briefing held at the company’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.
MultiChoice Nigeria, a CANAL+ company, has structured it’s DStv and GOtv channels saying that they are aimed at giving subscribers more choice and better value through packages tailored to their viewing preferences.
Under the new structures scheduled to take effect on November 5, 2026, DStv subscribers will choose from four packages: Starter, Select, Sports and Premium, while GOtv customers will have Easy, Starter, Select and Sports.
The announcement was made at a press briefing held at the company’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, where executives outlined
Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Kemi Omotosho, said that the restructuring forms part of CANAL+’s broader strategy to develop a more unified, customer-focused portfolio following MultiChoice’s integration into the group.
Omotosho emphasised that the changes were driven by customer feedback and shifts in how audiences consume entertainment across television sets, smartphones, tablets and laptops.
News
Leadership Names Obaigbena, Rabiu Persons of Year 2026
According to Leadership, the duo are being honoured for “building influential institutions, nurturing talent, challenging convention, and breaking new ground” in their respective fields.
Lagos |Pic: Presentation of Leadership Newspapers Person of the Year 2026 to Prince Nduka Obaigben, at the Ikoyi Offices of Arise News Channel in Lagos. In picture at the event were: Ombudsman, Kayode Komolafe; Leadership Newspapers Vice Chairman & Editor in Chief, Azu Ishiekwene; Leadership Newspapers Chairman, Mrs Zainab Sam Nda Isaiah; THISDAY Managing Director, Eniola Bello and Arise News Director of Politics, Akin Osuntokun.
Leadership Newspapers has named the Chairman of THISDAY Group and founder of Arise News, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, and the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, as its Persons of the Year 2026.
The newspaper announced the recognition, while citing the businessmen’s contributions to institution-building, talent development, innovation, investment, job creation and philanthropy.
According to Leadership, the duo are being honoured for “building influential institutions, nurturing talent, challenging convention, and breaking new ground” in their respective fields.
The Federal Government has approved a ₦70,000 monthly transport intervention for public service workers across all levels for a period of six months, beginning in November 2026. The measure is intended to cushion the impact of rising living costs on employees.
The approval was one of the key resolutions reached at a conciliation meeting held on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja. The meeting followed an earlier conciliation session on 22 October and came amid renewed pressure from organised labour over the cost of living, workers’ welfare, and outstanding agreements.
According to the signed resolutions document, the transport intervention of Seventy Thousand Naira (₦70,000) “commencing from November 2026 would be paid across all levels for a period of six months.” The parties also agreed that payment of peculiar allowance arrears—effective from 1 May 2026—would be made in three equal monthly instalments beginning in November.
On the national minimum wage, both sides agreed to constitute the Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee and begin meetings immediately, though they did not reach consensus on the effective date for implementation. Additional resolutions addressed outstanding allowances for health workers (including settlement of 19 months’ arrears within three months starting December 2026), tax relief (to be referred to the National Economic Council), and other welfare matters.
The memorandum was signed by Minister of Labour and Employment Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, NLC President Joe Ajaero, Director-General of the Budget Office Tanimu Yakubu (also referred to as Timi Yakubu in some reports), Permanent Secretary (Service Welfare Office) Dr Garba Abdul, and other representatives. The Federal Government and the NLC further urged state and local governments to key into the intervention.
Further administrative details on disbursement timelines and exact modalities are expected to be clarified by the relevant authorities.
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