A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday heard that international terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda supported members of the proscribed terrorist group Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) in carrying out the May 15 attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The court was told that the attacks and subsequent abduction of students and teachers were intended to pressure the Federal Government into releasing detained ANSARU leaders facing prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS).
A DSS operative, identified as ‘BBB’, who testified as the second prosecution witness in the trial of five alleged ANSARU members, said the group submitted a list of 30 leaders and members it wanted released, threatening to kill the kidnapped victims if its demands were not met.
The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, alias Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
According to the prosecution, the defendants hail from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State, and Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Oyedepo Rotimi (SAN), the witness said the government’s refusal to negotiate with the terrorists eventually prompted security agencies to launch an operation to rescue the victims.
BBB told the court that he became acquainted with the first defendant, Muhammad, through his official duties and identified him as one of Boko Haram’s founding members who previously headed its security and intelligence operations.
The witness alleged that Muhammad left Boko Haram in 2012 to establish ANSARU, with the group pursuing an ideology centred on establishing Islamic governance in Nigeria and attacking foreign nationals.
He said the group justified its targeting of foreigners by claiming that foreign nationals were killing Muslims abroad. He also recalled that the killing of seven foreign nationals by the group in 2014 led to its designation as a terrorist organisation by the United States and Muhammad’s identification as a globally wanted terrorist.
According to BBB, Muhammad subsequently led several kidnapping and killing operations after assuming ANSARU’s leadership, appointing the second defendant, Abbas, as head of operations.
The witness further alleged that Muhammad was arrested in 2025 and that the group subsequently planned high-profile attacks to secure the release of its detained leaders.
He told the court that on November 4, 2025, ANSARU members attacked the convoy of Jafaru Mohammed Ali, a member of the House of Representatives representing Agwara/Borgu, in an operation that reportedly killed four military personnel and injured four DSS operatives.
BBB said the group intended to abduct the lawmaker and use him as leverage to negotiate the release of Muhammad, Abbas and other detained members. He also alleged that the group planned an attack on the Wawa Military Base in New Bussa, Niger State, believing its members were being held there.
After the attempted attack on the military base failed, the witness said, ANSARU members moved to the South-West, hoping to use media coverage to amplify their demands and pressure the government into releasing their detained leaders.
Two victims killed before rescue operation
Giving details of the Oriire incident, BBB said the attackers moved the abducted students and teachers to a forest near Old Oyo National Park, where they demanded the release of 30 members of the group.
He alleged that the terrorists threatened to kill the victims if the government refused to comply and later attacked security personnel who attempted to rescue the captives.
According to the witness, one victim was slaughtered during the confrontation, while the attackers threatened to kill more hostages if security agencies continued their rescue efforts.
He added that security agencies eventually decided to launch an offensive after two victims had been killed, citing the group’s alleged history of violence against innocent people.
BBB also told the court that security operatives arrested the wife of the second defendant and relatives of other alleged commanders as part of their strategy to halt further killings.
He said the relatives were warned that their family members would face consequences if the hostages were killed, adding that the killings subsequently stopped until the rescue operation was conducted.
The witness maintained that the third, fourth and fifth defendants were ANSARU members who communicated with some of the group’s commanders, including a commander allegedly holding the Oriire victims.
He further alleged that the attacks were carried out in line with an operational strategy attributed to the group’s leadership, under which members were expected to launch attacks and carry out kidnappings whenever senior commanders were arrested.
BBB said security agencies eventually rescued the surviving victims, although personnel, including a senior police officer and an Army officer, were lost during the operation.
The witness reiterated that two victims had been killed before the rescue operation was completed.
Further hearing in the case is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. before Justice Salim Ibrahim.