A Federal High Court in Abuja heard on Monday that Al-Qaeda supported members of the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru in planning the May 15 kidnappings of scholars and academics in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
A prosecution witness, recognized as BBB, instructed the court docket that the assaults had been supposed to strain the Federal Government into releasing detained Ansaru leaders.
The witness mentioned the group submitted a listing of 30 members, together with its leaders, to the federal government and threatened to kill the kidnapped victims if its calls for weren’t met.
BBB testified because the second prosecution witness within the ongoing trial of 5 males accused of involvement within the assaults. The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also called Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also called Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also called Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also called Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also called Abu Itisar.
The prosecution mentioned the defendants are 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 proof by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, BBB mentioned safety businesses launched the rescue operation after the Federal Government refused to barter with the terrorists.
Witness Links Defendants to Ansaru Operations
BBB mentioned he knew the defendants by his official duties. He recognized the primary defendant, Muhammad, as certainly one of Boko Haram’s founding members, who beforehand served because the group’s head of safety and intelligence.
According to the witness, Muhammad’s father is from Okene in Kogi State, whereas his mom is from Borno State. He mentioned Muhammad left Boko Haram in 2012 with different members to determine Ansaru.
The witness mentioned the group sought to determine Islamic governance in Nigeria and focused overseas nationals as a result of its members believed foreigners had been killing Muslims overseas.
He recalled that Ansaru members killed seven overseas nationals in 2014, an operation he mentioned led the United States to designate the group as a terrorist organisation and declare Muhammad a globally needed terrorist.
BBB mentioned Muhammad later assumed Ansaru’s management and led a number of kidnapping and killing operations, appointing the second defendant, Abbas, as head of operations.
“He (Mahmud Mohammed) led the attack on the Emir of Potiskum. 17 military officers and three civilians were also killed in one of the operations he carried out,” the witness instructed the court docket.
He mentioned Muhammad was arrested in 2025 and that the group’s ideology required members to hold out assaults to safe the discharge of detained leaders. “When the first defendant was arrested, the second defendant identified high profile operations to be carried out to ensure that he is released.”
The witness instructed the court docket that on November 4, 2025, Ansaru members attacked the convoy of Jafaru Mohammed Ali, a House of Representatives member representing Agwara/Borgu.
He mentioned 4 army personnel had been killed and 4 Department of State Services personnel had been injured within the assault.
According to BBB, the group supposed to kidnap the lawmaker and use him to barter the discharge of Muhammad, Abbas and different detained members.
The witness added that the group additionally deliberate to assault the Wawa army base in New Bussa, Niger State, as a result of its members believed their detained colleagues had been being held there.
After the deliberate assault failed, Ansaru members relocated to the South-West, the place they believed media organisations may publicise their calls for and improve strain on the federal government, he mentioned.
BBB mentioned he participated within the investigation of the Oriire kidnappings and that Ansaru members carried out the assaults as a part of the group’s technique to safe the discharge of detained leaders.
The witness mentioned the attackers moved the kidnapped college students and academics to a safe location in a forest close to Old Oyo National Park.
“They made a demand and submitted a list of 30 members, including their leaders to the government, warning that if their demands were not met, they would kill the victims.”
BBB instructed the court docket that the abductors resisted safety operations and threatened to kill extra victims if the rescue effort continued.
He mentioned safety businesses determined to launch an offensive after the terrorists killed two of the kidnapped victims, citing the group’s historical past of killing harmless individuals.
The witness mentioned the federal government refused to launch the detained members regardless of the threats. “They (the terrorists) submitted a list, including the names of first and second defendants, who they wanted the government to release else they will kill all the victims.”
Security businesses finally rescued the remaining victims, however the operation got here at a value, in line with BBB. “Security agencies were able to secure the release of the victims. But unfortunately, we lost security personnel, including a senior police officer and an Army officer. Two of the victims were also murdered prior to the rescue operation.”
The witness additionally recognized the third, fourth and fifth defendants as Ansaru members who communicated with commanders, together with one who was holding the Oriire victims.
Further listening to within the case is scheduled for Tuesday at 9am earlier than Justice Salim Ibrahim.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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