By Atlantic Reports

A prosecution witness has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the 15 May attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State were intended to force the Federal Government to release detained leaders and members of Ansaru.

The witness, identified only as “BBB” for security reasons, testified on Monday before Justice Salim Ibrahim in the trial of five alleged members of the group.

He alleged that the abductors submitted a list of 30 people they wanted released and threatened to kill the students and teachers if the government refused.

The testimony forms part of the prosecution’s case. The allegations have not been established by a final court ruling.

Alleged Pressure for Prisoner Releases

The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, Abubakar Abbas, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani.

Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, BBB said he knew the defendants through his official duties and participated in investigating the Oriire attacks.

He alleged that the abductors moved their captives to a forest near Old Oyo National Park and demanded the release of detained members, including Muhammad and Abbas.

According to the witness, two captives were killed before security personnel rescued the remaining victims. He also said security personnel, including a senior police officer and an Army officer, died during the operation.

The account did not specify the total number abducted or rescued, or the full security casualty toll.

BBB said the government declined to negotiate over the demand for detainees’ release and security agencies subsequently launched the rescue operation.

Prosecution Describes Alleged Leadership Roles

The witness alleged that Muhammad had previously held a security and intelligence role in Boko Haram before joining others who broke away in 2012 to establish Ansaru.

He described Muhammad as a leader of the group and Abbas as its head of operations. He further alleged that members were instructed to conduct attacks to secure the release of detained leaders.

BBB linked that alleged strategy to an attack on the convoy of House of Representatives member Jafaru Mohammed Ali, representing Agwara/Borgu, on 4 November 2025.

He said four military personnel were killed and four Department of State Services personnel injured in that attack, which he alleged was an unsuccessful attempt to abduct the lawmaker for use in negotiations.

The witness also described an alleged plan to attack Wawa military base in New Bussa, Niger State, where the group believed its members were being held.

He said members subsequently relocated to the South-West, believing media coverage there would amplify their demands.

For Umar, Musa and Sani, BBB alleged that they communicated with Ansaru commanders, including one involved in holding the Oriire captives. The supplied account did not detail the communications or include the defence’s response to the testimony.

The court must determine whether the evidence establishes the individual involvement and criminal responsibility of each defendant. Allegations about a group’s activities do not, by themselves, prove the charges against every accused person.

Justice Ibrahim adjourned the trial until 13 October for continuation.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.