Ansaru Group Kidnaps Oyo Pupils to Demand Leader's Release

A Federal High Court in Abuja heard that members of the terrorist group Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) orchestrated the kidnappings of pupils, students, and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15 to compel the Federal Government to release their detained leaders. A Department of State Services operative, identified as BBB, testified as the second prosecution witness in the trial of five alleged Ansaru members.

BBB stated that the group received support from Al-Qaeda and had submitted a list of 30 leaders they wanted released, threatening to kill their captives if their demands were unmet. The defendants include Mahmud Muhammad, who was a founding member of Boko Haram before establishing Ansaru, and others.

The witness detailed that after the government refused to negotiate, security agencies launched a rescue operation. Muhammad, who became Ansaru's leader, had appointed Abbas Mukhtar as head of operations.

The group had previously attacked a convoy, resulting in military casualties.