BREAKING: Abuja Court Sentences 3 Men to Life Imprisonment Over Abduction of Oyo Schoolchildren, Teachers

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced three men to life imprisonment for their role in the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

In his judgment, Justice Salim Ibrahim rejected appeals by defence counsel for leniency, ruling that the life sentence would take effect from the date of the convicts’ initial arrest.

The defence had urged the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that the men had pleaded guilty, shown remorse, and were the sole providers for wives, children, and aged parents who depended on them.

But Justice Ibrahim held that the gravity of abducting schoolchildren and teachers demanded a firm response from the court.

“The court cannot grant liberal terms where the offence strikes at the heart of public safety and the right to education,” the judge said. “Life imprisonment is imposed as a deterrent to others.”

According to reports from channels the judge ruled that the sentence would be calculated from the exact date of their initial arrest and detention.

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Abduction of students and teachers has remained a major security concern in several parts of the country, with government and rights groups calling for stiffer penalties to serve as a deterrent.