Survivor recounts 56 days of horror in Oyo kidnapping

On September 18, 2026, a survivor, referred to as “AAA,” testified in the Federal High Court in Abuja regarding the May 15, 2026 abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, Oyo State. The victims endured 56 days of captivity, suffering from hunger, thirst, and exposure.

They were moved through six locations in the bush, often barefoot and sleeping on grass. The witness described the abductors, members of the proscribed terrorist organization Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru), as having stormed the schools on motorcycles, shooting to prevent escape.

The victims were told they were not held for ransom but to pressure the government to release detained Ansaru members. The situation escalated when two teachers were beheaded after the kidnappers accused the government of ignoring their demands.

The witness recounted the dire conditions, including sharing limited water and being fed unsalted rice. The testimony was led by Rotimi Oyedepo, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation.