The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Thursday sentenced three terrorists linked to the recent kidnapping of school children and teachers in three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State to a life imprisonment.

Justice Salim Ibrahim sentenced the three men after they pleaded guilty to some of the counts in a 10-count terrorism charge preferred against them by the Federal Government.

The judge, who gave them the maximum sentencing in count six which attracted life imprisonment, sentenced them to a 25-year jail term in count 4.

The trio 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), pleaded guilty to counts four and six.

Also, Umar, who was the only one mentioned in counts seven, eight, nine and 10, pleaded guilty to all the four counts.

The judge, in the judgment, equally sentenced Umar to a maximum sentencing of life imprisonment in counts seven, nine and 10 and committed him to a 20-year imprisonment in count eight.

Justice Ibrahim then adjourned the matter until September 16 and 17 for commencement of trial in counts one, two, three and five where they pleaded not guilty.

The men, arrested by the State Security Service (SSS), hail from Suleja LGA of Niger State. 

The offence is contrary to Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

Recall that the Oyo hostages comprising 39 pupils and five teachers abducted on May 15 were released after spending 56 days in captivity.  Two teachers were killed while in the custody of the terrorists. 

(NAN)