A Federal High Court in Abuja was informed on Monday that the May 15, 2026 abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State was orchestrated by the terrorist group Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), with backing from the international terrorist organization, Al-Qaeda. The testimony was delivered by a prosecution witness, referred to as 'BBB', during the ongoing trial of five individuals accused of involvement in the attacks.

The witness stated that the abduction was a strategic move to compel the Federal Government to release Ansaru leaders who are currently in custody. Following the kidnappings, the terrorists reportedly submitted a list of 30 names of their members and leaders to the government, threatening to kill the abductees if their demands were not met.

The five defendants in the case—Mahmud Muhammad (also known as Abu Bara’a), Abubakar Abbas (aka Isah Adam), Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa), Yunusa Musa (aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar)—are believed to have connections to various regions in Nigeria, including Kogi, Katsina, and Niger States. The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, led the witness in presenting evidence in court.

BBB detailed the operational tactics of Ansaru, explaining that the group had a history of violence and kidnappings aimed at securing the release of their detained leaders. He specifically identified Mahmud Muhammad as a founding member of Boko Haram who later established Ansaru in 2012. Muhammad’s leadership has been marked by a series of violent operations, including a notable attack on the Emir of Potiskum, which resulted in multiple fatalities.

The witness recounted that the group’s ideology includes retaliatory actions whenever their leaders are arrested. For instance, following Muhammad's arrest in 2025, the group planned high-profile attacks, including an assault on the convoy of a House of Representatives member, which led to several casualties among military personnel.

The Oriire attacks were described as part of a broader strategy to exert pressure on the government. After the kidnappings, the terrorists moved their victims to a secured location near the Old Oyo National Park and issued demands for the release of their leaders. The witness noted that the situation escalated when the terrorists killed two of the hostages, prompting security forces to launch a rescue operation.

Despite the eventual rescue of the victims, the operation was not without losses, as security personnel, including a senior police officer and an Army officer, were killed during the efforts. The witness emphasized that the Ansaru group’s actions were driven by a calculated ideology aimed at establishing Islamic governance and retaliating against perceived injustices against Muslims.

The court proceedings are set to continue on October 13, before Justice Salim Ibrahim, as the prosecution seeks to establish the full extent of the defendants’ involvement in the Oriire abduction and related terrorist activities.