A prosecution witness has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that Ansaru received support from Al-Qaeda for the May 15, 2026, school abductions in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The protected witness, identified as BBB, gave evidence on Monday in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the attacks. Channels Television identified him as a Department of State Services operative and the second prosecution witness.
BBB alleged that the operation was intended to force the Federal Government to release detained Ansaru leaders. He told the court that the abductors submitted a list of 30 members and leaders they wanted freed, threatening the captives if their demand was not met.
The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, Abubakar Abbas, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani. Their alleged involvement remains a matter for the court; the witness’s testimony is not a finding of guilt.
Led in evidence by federal prosecution chief Rotimi Oyedepo, BBB said he knew the defendants through his official duties. He alleged that Muhammad was a founding Boko Haram member who later helped establish Ansaru, and that Abbas became its head of operations.
The witness said Ansaru members moved into the South-West after earlier attempts to secure the release of their leaders failed. He alleged that the Oriire captives were taken to a forest near Old Oyo National Park.
BBB said two captives were killed before the rescue operation and that security personnel, including a senior police officer and an army officer, died during the operation.
The testimony follows earlier evidence from a protected survivor identified as AAA. NaijaTrend reported that witness’s account here.
Further hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, before Justice Salim Ibrahim. Channels Television reported that proceedings would resume at 9 a.m.
Sources: Daily Post, Channels Television
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