A Department of State Services (DSS) operative has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru allegedly kidnapped students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State to pressure the Federal Government into releasing 30 detained members and leaders.
The witness, identified as BBB, also alleged that international terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda supported Ansaru in planning the May 15 attack.
Testifying on Monday as the second prosecution witness in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the incident, BBB said the kidnappers presented a list of 30 people they wanted released and threatened to kill the hostages if their demands were not met.
The witness gave his testimony while being led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.
The five defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
They are accused of belonging to Ansaru and participating in activities linked to the group.
DSS witness traces alleged Ansaru leadership
BBB told the court that he knew the first defendant, Muhammad, through his official duties. He described him as a founding member of Boko Haram who later helped establish Ansaru in 2012.
According to the witness, Muhammad previously headed security and intelligence operations within Boko Haram before leaving with other members to form Ansaru.
He alleged that the group sought to establish Islamic governance in Nigeria and targeted foreign nationals because its members believed foreigners were responsible for the killing of Muslims in other countries.
The witness further claimed that the killing of seven foreign nationals by Ansaru members in 2014 contributed to the group’s designation as a terrorist organisation by the United States. He said Muhammad later assumed leadership of Ansaru and appointed the second defendant, Abbas, as head of operations.
BBB alleged that following Muhammad’s arrest in 2025, the group began targeting prominent individuals and institutions to force the government to release its detained leaders.
He told the court that the group’s strategy included carrying out attacks whenever senior members were arrested.
Witness links other attacks to alleged release demand
The DSS operative cited an attack on the convoy of Jafaru Mohammed Ali, a member of the House of Representatives representing Agwara/Borgu, on November 4, 2025.
He alleged that four military personnel were killed and four DSS operatives injured in the attack, which he said was intended to abduct the lawmaker and use him as leverage in negotiations for the release of detained Ansaru members.
BBB also told the court that the group planned to attack the Wawa military base in New Bussa, Niger State, because it believed some of its members were being detained there.
He said the group subsequently moved towards the South-West after the plan failed, believing that targeting the region would attract media attention and help publicise its demands.
The witness maintained that the kidnapping in Oriire was part of the same alleged strategy.
Two abductees allegedly killed during rescue operation
According to BBB, the abducted students and teachers were taken to a forest near the Old Oyo National Park, where their captors threatened to kill them unless the government released the 30 people on their list.
He said security agencies later launched an operation against the terrorists in the forest. The attackers allegedly opened fire on security operatives and threatened to kill additional hostages.
The witness claimed that two abductees were killed before the rescue operation was completed. He also alleged that security personnel suffered casualties, including a senior police officer and an Army officer.
BBB further testified that security agencies took the wife of the second defendant and other relatives of alleged commanders into custody as part of measures to stop further killings.
According to him, the relatives were warned that continued attacks on the hostages would have consequences for their family members. He claimed the measure contributed to a halt in the killings before the rescue operation was completed.
The witness also alleged that the third, fourth and fifth defendants communicated with Ansaru commanders, including a commander said to be holding the Oriire victims.
He maintained that the kidnapping was carried out as part of a broader plan to launch attacks and secure the release of detained leaders.
BBB said the Federal Government refused to negotiate with the kidnappers despite their threats and demand for the release of the 30 alleged members.
Further hearing in the case is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. before Justice Salim Ibrahim.
The allegations against the five defendants remain before the court and have yet to be determined.
