The prosecution in the trial of five men accused of belonging to the Ansaru terrorist group says the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State was intended to pressure the Federal Government into releasing detained group leaders. A witness gave the account on Monday before the Federal High Court in Abuja, describing the alleged strategy behind the May 15, 2026, attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The protected witness, identified as “BBB”, told the court that the abductors submitted a list of 30 Ansaru members and leaders they wanted released, threatening to kill the captives if the government refused. According to the witness, the victims were held at a forest location near Old Oyo National Park while the group sought to compel the authorities to meet its demands.
The witness alleged that the operation was part of a wider pattern in which Ansaru members targeted people and institutions to secure the release of detained commanders. He said the group’s leadership had directed members to carry out attacks whenever senior figures were arrested, and alleged that the plan was put into action after the arrest of the first defendant, Mahmud Muhammad, in 2025.
The court also heard allegations of earlier operations linked to the group, including an attack on the convoy of a House of Representatives member in November 2025. The witness said the operation allegedly targeted the lawmaker for abduction as part of efforts to negotiate the release of detained members. These claims form part of the prosecution’s account of the group’s alleged activities and remain subject to the court’s determination.
According to the witness, the standoff in Oriire escalated after the Federal Government declined to negotiate. He said security agencies eventually launched a rescue operation after two abductees had been killed, with the confrontation also resulting in the deaths of security personnel, including a senior police officer and an Army officer.
The five defendants standing trial are Mahmud Muhammad, Abubakar Abbas, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani. The prosecution alleges that they were involved in the group’s activities and the Oriire abduction, while the witness said some of the accused were in communication with commanders linked to the captives. The allegations must be established through the judicial process.
The case is expected to continue on October 13 before Justice Salim Ibrahim. The proceedings will examine the prosecution’s claims about the planning of the abduction, the alleged demand for the release of detained members and the circumstances surrounding the deaths and rescue operation. The trial remains a key stage in determining individual responsibility for the attack.
