The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that five suspects accused of involvement in the kidnap of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, pending trial.
The suspects were re-arraigned before Justice Salim Ibrahim over their alleged involvement in the May 15 abduction, which reportedly resulted in the killing of two victims.
The defendants, alleged by the DSS to be members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as Ansaru, were brought before the court on a seven-count charge.
They pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
Following their pleas, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the DSS legal team, urged the court to fix an early date for the commencement of trial in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Oyedepo also asked the court to protect witnesses expected to testify in the case by concealing their identities and allowing them to appear in court wearing masks.
The defence counsel, Bala Dakum, did not object to the applications.
Justice Ibrahim subsequently granted the DSS requests and ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody.
The court adjourned the matter until October 18, 2026, for further proceedings.
