A witness in the trial of five alleged members of the Ansaru terrorist group on Thursday narrated how 49 pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State spent 56 days in captivity under harsh conditions.
The witness, identified as ‘AAA’ to protect her identity, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the victims were moved between six camps during their captivity, where they slept on grass and endured exposure to rain and scorching sunshine.
Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Department of State Services witness said the abductees included children as young as one and a half years who were taken from pre nursery schools.
According to her, armed bandits stormed the schools on May 15, 2026, riding about 12 motorcycles and firing shots to prevent the pupils and teachers from escaping.
She said the victims were subsequently taken into the bush, with about four persons forced onto each motorcycle, while a vehicle belonging to one of the teachers was also used to transport some of the abductees.
The witness told Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim that the kidnappers’ leader later informed them that their abduction was aimed at pressuring the government to secure the release of detained members of the Ansaru group, rather than for ransom.
She alleged that two teachers, Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun, were subsequently taken out and beheaded in the presence of the other victims after the kidnappers accused the government of failing to meet their demands.
‘AAA’ further told the court that the kidnappers seized their mobile phones and used them to contact the victims’ relatives and government officials while communicating their demands.
She said the captives suffered severe food and water shortages during their 56 days in the bush, with about four people sometimes forced to share a cup of water.
The witness said their meals initially consisted of rice, salt and palm oil, but deteriorated to rice and palm oil after the salt ran out, and eventually plain white rice when the palm oil was exhausted.
She also alleged that the kidnappers flogged young children during meals to stop them from struggling for food and served the victims their meals in dirty rubber containers.
According to her, the captives were unable to bathe or wash their clothes throughout the period, leaving them dirty and vulnerable to illness. She added that they were forced to drink dirty water and sometimes had to close their eyes before consuming it because of its condition.
The witness said the victims were eventually rescued at the sixth camp after security forces engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle.
The defendants standing trial are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, aka Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, aka Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar.
They are facing a seven-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, conspiracy, aiding terrorism and concealing information about acts of terrorism.
The prosecution alleges that the defendants were involved in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire and the deaths of Olaleye and Oyedokun. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by the court.
Defence counsel, Bala Dakum, is expected to cross-examine the DSS witness when proceedings resume on Friday.
Justice Ibrahim has also ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody throughout the duration of their trial.