Five men accused of involvement in the May 15, 2026 abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have pleaded not guilty to terrorism-related charges as their trial opened before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The defendants were re-arraigned on Thursday on a seven-count amended charge filed by the Department of State Services on behalf of the Federal Government. Prosecutors accuse them of involvement in the school abductions and the deaths of two victims.

The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, Abubakar Abbas, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani.

Prosecutors allege that they are members of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, also known as Ansaru, a proscribed group. All five men denied the charges when they were read before Justice Salim Ibrahim.

The amended charge alleges that about 46 pupils and teachers were abducted from schools in Oriire during the May attack. The defendants are also accused of offences including conspiracy, aiding kidnapping, withholding information about an alleged planned terrorist attack and causing the deaths of two victims.

Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the prosecution team, asked the court to commence trial immediately and sought protection for prosecution witnesses, including permission for their identities to be concealed during proceedings.

Defence lawyer Bala Dakum did not object, and Justice Ibrahim granted the applications.

The prosecution then called its first witness, a rescued teacher identified only as AAA as part of the court’s witness-protection measures.

The witness told the court that school activities had just begun when gunshots were heard during the attack that led to the abductions. She said the captives subsequently spent 56 days in captivity and were moved through several locations before being rescued.

According to her testimony, the victims endured shortages of food and water and slept outdoors during parts of their captivity. She also told the court that very young children were among those held.

Channels Television reported that the witness said 49 students and teachers were held during the ordeal, while the amended prosecution charge refers to about 46 abducted persons. Verita Post is retaining the distinction because those figures come from different parts of the proceedings.

The prosecution alleges that two victims, identified in court filings as Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye, were killed during the episode. Those allegations remain before the court and have not been established by a conviction.

The five defendants are presumed innocent unless and until the prosecution proves the charges against them.

Justice Ibrahim ordered that they remain in DSS custody while the trial continues. Defence counsel is expected to cross-examine the first prosecution witness on September 18.

The trial follows months of investigation into the Oriire school attack and comes amid renewed security concerns around schools and other vulnerable institutions across Nigeria. Verita Post reported earlier this week that security agencies had intensified surveillance around schools and NYSC camps following intelligence warnings of possible attacks.