A 23-year-old man has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja over his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and killing of a pastor, Nicholas Akor Alfa and another man, Elijah Nweke, in a forest in Gbagalape, Nyanya, in Abuja.

Justice Salim Ibrahim arraigned Ibrahim Aboubakar on six counts, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/618/2026, on Wednesday.

Aboubakar was listed alongside Abubakar Shaibu as a defendant in the charge sheet. But before the charge could be read, the prosecuting lawyer, Dabo Yakubu, applied that Shaibu’s name be deleted because he was deceased.

Yakubu said Shuaibu, listed as the first defendant, took ill some time ago and was taken to Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja, where he died.

Defence lawyer, Enyisal Lawrence, did not object, following which Justice Ibrahim deleted Shuaibu’s name from the charge, which was later read to Aboubakar, who pleaded not guilty.

Yakubu later applied for a trial date, and Justice Ibrahim fixed it for November 26.

He was accused of engaging in kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, hostage-taking that resulted in the death of the victims, being a member of a terrorist group, among others.

In count one, Aboubakar and others (now at large) were alleged to have, on or about May 16, at Gbagalape in Nyanya, armed themselves with guns and other dangerous weapons, conspired and kidnapped Nweke and Pastor Alfa.

He was, in count two, alleged to have stormed some residential houses where they seized and detained Nweke and Alfa in order that ransom would be paid.

In count three, he was alleged to have, in April 2026 at Gbagalape in Nyanya, Abuja, committed the offence of hostage taking by seizing and detaining Nweke and Alfa.

The defendant and others were further alleged to have taken Nweke and Alfa hostage at Gbagalape Forest, where they negotiated with their families for the sum of N8 million only to be paid as ransom before they would be released.

He was also alleged to have, with the support of others, now at large, in April 2026 at Gbagalape Forest, detained and held Nweke and Alfa hostage, shot them dead without any provocation.

In count five, the defendant was alleged to have, in June 2026, confessed to being a member of a terrorist group that often robs at gunpoint, kidnaps, and holds hostage residents of Nasarawa State and Abuja, among others. (The Nation)