Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday heard that international terrorist organisation, Al-Qaeda, supported members of proscribed terrorist group, Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, ANSARU, to stage May 15 attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Attack, court also heard, was to force Federal Government to release their leaders arrested and being prosecuted by Department of State Services, DSS.
Prosecution witness, identified as ‘BBB’, also told court that upon kidnapping students and teachers during attacks, terrorists submitted list containing 30 names of their leaders and members to Federal Government, who they demanded must be released, or else they would kill victims.
Witness, DSS operative, testified on Monday as second prosecution witness in ongoing trial of five men, said to be members of Ansaru, and accused of complicity in Oriire attacks.
Five defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, aka Abu Bara’a, Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, aka Isah Adam, Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, aka Abu Itisar.
According to prosecution, defendants are from Okene Local Government Area, Kogi State; Daura LGA, Katsina State; and Suleja LGA, Niger State.
Led in evidence by Director of Public Prosecution of Federation, DPPF, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, BBB said operation effected by security agents, leading to kidnap victims’ rescue, was informed by FG’s refusal to negotiate with terrorists and play by their demands.
Witness said he knew five defendants in course of his official duties, adding that he particularly knew first defendant, Muhammad, in Maiduguri as one of founding fathers of Boko Haram, who once served as group’s Head of Security and Intelligence.
He said Muhammad, whose father is from Okene in Kogi State and his mother from Borno State, was among those who left Boko Haram in 2012 and set up ANSARU group to propagate ideology of establishing Islamic governance in country and carrying out attacks on foreign nationals.
Witness said group’s members believed foreign nationals were killing their Muslim brothers abroad, hence decision to kidnap and kill foreigners.
He recalled that group’s members’ killing of seven foreigners in 2014 led United States to designate ANSARU as proscribed terrorist group and declared Muhammad globally wanted terrorist.
BBB said Muhammad led series of kidnapping and killing operations when he took over leadership of ANSARU and named second defendant, Abbas, as Head of Operations.
Witness said, “He, Mahmud Mohammed, led attack on Emir of Potiskum. 17 military officers and three civilians were also killed in one of operations he carried out.”
“He was arrested in 2025. It is part of their ideology that once any of their leaders are arrested, they will do anything to ensure their release.
“When Abu Bara’a became leader of ANSARU, he made second defendant head of operations.
“When first defendant was arrested, second defendant identified high-profile operations to be carried out to ensure that he is released.
“On November 4, 2025, they attacked convoy of House of Representatives member, Jafaru Mohammed Ali, representing Agwara/Borgu, killed four military personnel and injured four DSS personnel.”
Reason for attack, he said, was to kidnap lawmaker and negotiate for release of leaders, among whom are first and second defendants.
“Their plan was to kidnap him, humiliate him publicly, and demand that FG release first and second defendants who were in custody. They also planned to attack Wawa Military Base in New Bussa, Niger State, because they thought their members were being kept there,” he said.
“When attack on Wawa failed, members of ANSARU strategically relocated to South West, where they believed there were media houses to help amplify their demands to make FG agree to release of first and second defendants and other of their members being held by state.”
Witness, who said he was aware of Oriire attacks, added that he was part of those who investigated case.
BBB said, “Attacks were carried out by members of ANSARU group. When they carried out attack, they moved victims to secured location in forest close to Old Oyo National Park.
“They made demand and submitted list of 30 members, including their leaders, to government, warning that if demands were not met, they would kill victims.
“They were very hostile. Security agencies later launched offensive at forest. They shot at security operatives and slaughtered one of victims and threatened to kill others if there were efforts to rescue victims.”
Witness said after terrorists killed two of victims of Oriire attacks, security operatives saw need to launch rescue operation, knowing that ANSARU members had history of reckless killing of innocent souls.
He said one of strategies adopted was to arrest wife of second defendant and family members of those behind Oriire attacks.
BBB said, “Security men took wife of second defendant, including other family members of commanders, who were active then. They were warned that if they killed any victims, their family members would also be killed.
“That was what led to stoppage of killing of victims until rescue operation was carried out. Two victims were killed in Oriire attack.”
Describing how he knew third, fourth and fifth defendants, witness said, “They are members of ANSARU group that were in communication with some of commanders, particularly one of commanders, who was holding Oriire victims.”
He stated that members of ANSARU group carried out Oriire attacks in furtherance of ideology put in place by leaders — first and second defendants — that in event of arrest of their top leaders, members should engage in series of operations, attacks, to force FG to release arrested leaders.
BBB said those behind Oriire attacks actually pressured government to release leaders, but FG refused to negotiate with them.
He added, “They submitted list, including names of first and second defendants, whom they wanted government to release; else they will kill all victims.
“Security agencies were able to secure release of victims. But unfortunately, we lost security personnel, including senior police officer and Army officer. Two of victims were also murdered prior to rescue operation,” witness said.
Further hearing resumes on Tuesday by 9am before Justice Salim Ibrahim.
