Witness Reveals Horrific Details of Oyo State Kidnapping

A witness identified as ‘AAA’ testified at the Federal High Court in Abuja regarding the abduction of 49 students and teachers from schools in Orire Local Government Area, Oyo State. The victims were held for 56 days under severe conditions, being moved to six locations and forced to sleep on the ground.

The defendants, members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) terrorist group, include Mahmud Muhammad, Abubakar Abbas, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani. The witness recounted how armed bandits invaded the schools on motorcycles, capturing the victims and demanding negotiations for the release of their group members rather than ransom.

During captivity, two teachers, Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun, were beheaded as a demonstration of the kidnappers' frustrations with the government's response. The victims faced extreme hunger and limited water, with children being punished to prevent them from fighting for food.

The ordeal was marked by severe dehumanization and violence.