Oriire abduction: How kidnappers beheaded two teachers in our presence – Victim tells court

A DSS witness testified in a Federal High Court in Abuja about the kidnapping and beheading of two teachers by the Jama'atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (Ansaru) terrorist group. The witness, identified as 'AAA', described the ordeal of 49 kidnapped students and teachers who were held captive for 56 days in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The kidnappers moved them to six different locations under harsh conditions, including heavy rains and sunshine. They were forced to sleep on grass and faced hunger, thirst, and lack of hygiene. Two teachers, Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun, were beheaded after appearing before the kidnappers' leader, who claimed they were being held for negotiations rather than ransom.

The witness also mentioned that the children, some as young as one and a half years old, were flogged to prevent them from fighting for the scarce rice. The victims were only given water to drink, which they had to accept due to the dire circumstances. The defendants accused of involvement in the abduction and murder are Mahmud Muhammad, Abubakar Abbas, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa, and Shamsu Adamu Sani.

They are all members of the Ansaru group. The defendants are charged with terrorism under Section 24 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the murder of Deacon John Olaleye under Section 2(3)(g) of the same Act.