Three men convicted over terrorism-related offences linked to the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled that the sentences for Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa Bin Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar, will take effect from the date of their arrest.

Before sentencing, defence counsel urged the court to impose lighter penalties, arguing that the three men were first-time offenders who pleaded guilty and had shown remorse, adding that they were married with children and had elderly parents who depended on them. Counsel for the prosecution argued that the convicts failed to disclose information about terrorist activities despite having knowledge of those involved.

The three men pleaded guilty to membership of a proscribed terrorist group and to concealing information relating to the planning and execution of the abduction. Abdulrazak Umar also admitted additional charges of providing training, passing instructions and promoting a religious ideology linked to the terrorist group.