OYO Attack: Al-Qaeda Backed Ansaru Attacks to Force Release of Leaders, Court Hears
Hope Ajayi 
ABUJA, Nigeria – A Department of State Services (DSS) operative has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that international terrorist organisation Al-Qaeda supported members of the proscribed Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) to carry out attacks in Oyo State to pressure the Federal Government into releasing detained leaders.
The witness, identified as BBB, gave the testimony on Monday while appearing as the second prosecution witness in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the May 15 attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
According to the witness, the attackers abducted students and teachers and submitted a list of 30 leaders and members they wanted the government to release, threatening to kill the captives if their demands were not met.
The five defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri; Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa and Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
The prosecution said the defendants were from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State and Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State.
Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Oyedepo Rotimi (SAN), the witness said the security operation that led to the victims’ rescue followed the government’s refusal to negotiate with the group.
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Korede Abdullah 
Oluwatobi Adu 