The Department of State Services (DSS) will on Thursday, September 17, re-arraign five men accused of involvement in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The suspects are also accused of complicity in the subsequent killing of two of the victims following the May 15 incident.

They will be re-arraigned on a six-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026, filed by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government.

The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, aka Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, aka Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar.

The prosecution identified the five men as members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group.

Their arraignment, initially scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, was stalled after the defendants objected to being represented by lawyers from the Legal Aid Council, insisting instead on counsel of their choice.

At the proceedings, Mr Akilaluyel Shettima, a Deputy Director with the Legal Aid Council, announced his appearance for the five defendants.

However, the first defendant, Mahmud Muhammad, objected to the representation.

Speaking on behalf of the other defendants, Muhammad told Justice Salim Ibrahim that they had previously been represented by a lawyer, Bala Dakum, and wanted him to continue handling the case.

The DSS lawyer and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, acknowledged that the defendants' choice of counsel was a constitutional matter that should be respected.

Oyedepo said the DSS was a law-abiding institution that was not interested in persecuting the defendants but in ensuring justice.

Following the submissions, Justice Ibrahim adjourned the matter until Thursday, September 17, for the fresh arraignment.

The judge directed the defendants to contact their preferred lawyer and ensure his appearance in court.

He also ordered the DSS to grant the defendants access to their lawyer to enable them prepare for their defence in accordance with the law.