A Federal Top Court docket in Abuja heard on Monday that Al-Qaeda supported participants of the proscribed terrorist crew Ansaru in making plans the Would possibly 15 kidnappings of scholars and lecturers in Oriire Native Govt Space of Oyo State.
A prosecution witness, recognized as BBB, informed the courtroom that the assaults had been meant to force the Federal Govt into liberating detained Ansaru leaders.
The witness stated the gang submitted a listing of 30 participants, together with its leaders, to the federal government and threatened to kill the abducted sufferers if its calls for weren’t met.
BBB testified as the second one prosecution witness within the ongoing trial of 5 males accused of involvement within the assaults. The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, often referred to as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, often referred to as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, often referred to as Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, often referred to as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, often referred to as Abu Itisar.
The prosecution stated the defendants are from Okene Native Govt Space of Kogi State, Daura Native Govt Space of Katsina State and Suleja Native Govt Space of Niger State.
Led in proof by way of the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, BBB stated safety companies introduced the rescue operation after the Federal Govt refused to barter with the terrorists.
Witness Hyperlinks Defendants to Ansaru Operations
BBB stated he knew the defendants via his reputable tasks. He recognized the primary defendant, Muhammad, as one among Boko Haram’s founding participants, who up to now served as the gang’s head of safety and intelligence.
Consistent with the witness, Muhammad’s father is from Okene in Kogi State, whilst his mom is from Borno State. He stated Muhammad left Boko Haram in 2012 with different participants to ascertain Ansaru.
The witness stated the gang sought to ascertain Islamic governance in Nigeria and centered overseas nationals as a result of its participants believed foreigners had been killing Muslims in another country.
He recalled that Ansaru participants killed seven overseas nationals in 2014, an operation he stated led the USA to designate the gang as a terrorist organisation and claim Muhammad a globally sought after terrorist.
BBB stated Muhammad later assumed Ansaru’s management and led a number of kidnapping and killing operations, appointing the second one defendant, Abbas, as head of operations.
“He (Mahmud Mohammed) led the assault at the Emir of Potiskum. 17 army officials and 3 civilians had been additionally killed in one of the crucial operations he performed,” the witness informed the courtroom.
He stated Muhammad was once arrested in 2025 and that the gang’s ideology required participants to hold out assaults to safe the discharge of detained leaders. “When the primary defendant was once arrested, the second one defendant recognized prime profile operations to be performed to make sure that he’s launched.”
The witness informed the courtroom that on November 4, 2025, Ansaru participants attacked the convoy of Jafaru Mohammed Ali, a Area of Representatives member representing Agwara/Borgu.
He stated 4 army staff had been killed and 4 Division of State Products and services staff had been injured within the assault.
Consistent with BBB, the gang meant to kidnap the lawmaker and use him to barter the discharge of Muhammad, Abbas and different detained participants.
The witness added that the gang additionally deliberate to assault the Wawa army base in New Bussa, Niger State, as a result of its participants believed their detained colleagues had been being held there.
After the deliberate assault failed, Ansaru participants relocated to the South-West, the place they believed media organisations may publicise their calls for and build up force at the govt, he stated.
BBB stated he participated within the investigation of the Oriire kidnappings and that Ansaru participants performed the assaults as a part of the gang’s approach to safe the discharge of detained leaders.
The witness stated the attackers moved the abducted scholars and lecturers to a safe location in a woodland close to Outdated Oyo Nationwide Park.
“They made a requirement and submitted a listing of 30 participants, together with their leaders to the federal government, caution that if their calls for weren’t met, they’d kill the sufferers.”
BBB informed the courtroom that the abductors resisted safety operations and threatened to kill extra sufferers if the rescue effort persevered.
He stated safety companies determined to release an offensive after the terrorists killed two of the abducted sufferers, mentioning the gang’s historical past of killing blameless folks.
The witness stated the federal government refused to free up the detained participants regardless of the threats. “They (the terrorists) submitted a listing, together with the names of first and 2d defendants, who they sought after the federal government to free up else they’re going to kill the entire sufferers.”
Safety companies in the end rescued the rest sufferers, however the operation got here at a price, in line with BBB. “Safety companies had been ready to safe the discharge of the sufferers. However sadly, we misplaced safety staff, together with a senior police officer and an Military officer. Two of the sufferers had been additionally murdered previous to the rescue operation.”
The witness additionally recognized the 3rd, fourth and 5th defendants as Ansaru participants who communicated with commanders, together with one that was once retaining the Oriire sufferers.
Additional listening to within the case is scheduled for Tuesday at 9am sooner than Justice Salim Ibrahim.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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