The Federal High Court in Abuja has heard allegations that international terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda supported members of the proscribed Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) in carrying out the May 15 attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
A prosecution witness, identified as ‘BBB’, told Justice Salim Ibrahim that the attacks were allegedly intended to force the Federal Government to release detained leaders and members of the group.
Testifying as the second prosecution witness in the trial of five alleged ANSARU members, BBB said the group submitted a list of 30 detained members, including its leaders, to the government and threatened to kill the abducted students and teachers if its demands were not met.
The 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.
According to the prosecution, the defendants hail 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 evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness said the security operation that led to the victims’ rescue followed the Federal Government’s refusal to negotiate with ANSARU or meet its demands.
BBB said he knew the defendants through his official duties, particularly Muhammad, whom he described as a founding member of Boko Haram and a former head of its security and intelligence operations.
According to the witness, Muhammad was among those who left Boko Haram in 2012 to establish ANSARU.
He said the group sought to establish Islamic governance in Nigeria and targeted foreign nationals because its members believed foreigners were killing Muslims abroad.
The witness recalled that ANSARU’s killing of seven foreign nationals in 2014 led the United States to designate the group a terrorist organisation and declare Muhammad a globally wanted terrorist.
BBB alleged that Muhammad led several kidnapping and killing operations after becoming ANSARU’s leader, while the second defendant, Abbas, served as head of operations.
“He (Mahmud Muhammad) led the attack on the Emir of Potiskum. Seventeen military officers and three civilians were also killed in one of the operations he carried out,” the witness said.
He told the court that Muhammad was arrested in 2025 and alleged that ANSARU’s ideology required members to do whatever was necessary to secure the release 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,” BBB said.
The witness further alleged that on November 4, 2025, ANSARU members attacked the convoy of Jafaru Mohammed Ali, a member of the House of Representatives representing Agwara/Borgu, killing four military personnel and injuring four Department of State Services personnel.
According to BBB, the group intended to kidnap the lawmaker, publicly humiliate him and use the incident to negotiate the release of detained members, including the first and second defendants.
He also alleged that ANSARU planned to attack the Wawa military base in New Bussa, Niger State, because its members believed detainees were being held there.
After the attempted attack failed, the group allegedly relocated to the South-West, where members believed media coverage would amplify their demands for the release of their leaders and other detained members.
BBB, who said he participated in the investigation into the Oriire attacks, alleged that ANSARU members carried out the operation and moved the abducted victims to a secure location in a forest near the Old Oyo National Park.
He told the court that the attackers threatened to kill the victims if the government refused to release the detained members.
The witness also alleged that the abductors attacked security operatives when they launched an offensive in the forest and threatened to kill more captives if rescue attempts continued.
According to BBB, security agencies eventually launched the rescue operation after two victims had been killed, citing the group’s alleged history of indiscriminate killings.
He said the third, fourth and fifth defendants were ANSARU members who communicated with some of the group’s commanders, particularly the commander responsible for holding the Oriire victims.
The witness alleged that the defendants acted in furtherance of the group’s ideology, under which members were expected to carry out attacks to compel the Federal Government to release detained senior members.
BBB said the government refused to negotiate with the group, but security agencies eventually secured the release of the remaining victims.
He added that security personnel were killed during the rescue operation, including a senior police officer and an Army officer.
Proceedings in the case are expected to continue on Tuesday.