The State Security Services (SSS) will, on Thursday, re-arraign five suspected Ansaru members over their alleged involvement in the May 15 abduction of school pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government of Oyo State.

No fewer than 46 persons were abducted, including the school principal, Folawe Alamu, from two schools in the area.

Two of the abducted teachers were subsequently killed by the terrorists.

The five men will be arraigned before Justice Salim Ibrahim on a six-count amended charge.

The charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, was filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

The suspects are Mahmud Muhammad (aka Abu Bara’a, Abbas Mukhtar); Abubakar Abbas (aka Isah Adam, Mahmuda Al-Nigeri); Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid); Yunusa Musa (aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa); and Shamsu Sani (aka Abu Itisar).

They were accused of being members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group.

Although the suspects were scheduled for re-arraignment on Wednesday, the case was, however, adjourned until Thursday, following the defendants’ insistence to be defended by lawyers of their own choice.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, Akilaluyel Shettima, a deputy director with the Legal Aid Council, had announced an appearance for the five suspects, but the 1st defendant, Mahmud Muhammad, objected.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Muhammad told Justice Ibrahim that they had been represented by a lawyer, Bala Dakum, before and would want him to continue to defend them.

Consequently, Mr Oyedepo conceded that the issue of choice of lawyer is a constitutional matter that must be respected and allowed for the accused persons.

The senior lawyer told the court that the SSS is a law-abiding institution not interested in persecution of the accused persons but only interested in justice.

The judge, consequently, adjourned the matter until September 17 for re-arraignment.

Mr Ibrahim ordered the defendants to contact their lawyer to be in court on the next adjourned date.

The judge also directed the SSS to allow the suspects to have access to their counsel to prepare for their defence as required by law.

(NAN)