The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign three suspects allegedly linked to the Oriire school abductions before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, July 23, 2026, over kidnapping and terrorism-related offences.

The suspects—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 face a 10-count charge filed by the Federal Government.

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According to the charge sheet, the three defendants, all from Niger State, are accused of withholding information about individuals allegedly involved in terrorist activities, participating in kidnapping operations and using a messaging platform to facilitate terrorist training.

The Federal Government filed the charges on July 17, 2026, ahead of the scheduled arraignment, which is expected to mark the formal commencement of criminal proceedings against the suspects.

During Thursday’s court session, the charges will be read to the defendants, after which they are expected to enter their pleas before the trial proceeds in accordance with the law.

The case is connected to investigations into the Oriire school abductions, one of the recent incidents that heightened concerns over insecurity and attacks on educational institutions in Nigeria.

If the arraignment proceeds as scheduled, the Federal High Court will begin hearing the matter following the defendants’ plea to the charges.

Newsworld reports that the charges filed against the defendants are allegations by the Federal Government. Under Nigerian law, the suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.