The federal government has re-arraigned two convicted Ansaru terrorist commanders and three others, previously sentenced to life imprisonment, on fresh charges linked to the killing of two teachers among a group of teachers and students abducted in Oyo State.

The defendants, including self-styled Ansaru leader Mahmud Usman Muhammad and his deputy Abubakar Abbas, along with three others involved in the recent Oyo kidnapping, appeared before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja on a fresh six count terrorism charge, to which they all pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors allege the defendants had ordered their foot soldiers to kidnap and kill victims if their leaders were ever arrested, and that in fulfilment of that order, foot soldiers abducted about 46 pupils and teachers from three schools in Oyo State on May 15, subsequently killing two teachers, Michael Oyedokun and Deacon John Olaleye.

The court ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Department of State Services with unrestricted access to their lawyers and family members, and adjourned the matter to September 25 for the start of trial.