The Federal Government has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that two alleged leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, who are standing trial for terrorism-related offences, are wanted by the United States and the United Kingdom over alleged acts of terror.
Gatekeepers News reports that the defendants, Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar, and Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri, are among five alleged Ansaru members being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS).
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the court admitted a video allegedly showing the beheading of a church deacon and a schoolteacher abducted in Oriire, Oyo State, as evidence in the trial.
Justice Ibrahim Salim admitted the footage as Exhibit Oyo 1 after it was played in open court.
The judge also admitted as Exhibit Oyo 2 a list of demands allegedly submitted by the terrorist group to the Federal Government through the Oyo State Government. The document reportedly contained the names of 30 suspected Ansaru members said to be held in detention facilities across the country.
A DSS operative, identified by the codename BBB, told the court that the group claimed in the video to have killed one of its captives because the government had delayed meeting its demands for the release of detained members.
The witness, who said he was part of the DSS team that investigated the Oriire abduction, testified that the video was released while the group held its victims in anticipation of a possible prisoner exchange.
He said the terrorists threatened to kill the captives, including infants, schoolchildren and women, if their demands were not met.
The witness further alleged that the schoolteacher’s body was dismembered after the killing to prevent security operatives from advancing towards the group’s forest hideout.
The video was tendered through the witness by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, who appeared for the DSS.
Alleged Ansaru Commander Named in Prisoner-Swap Demand
The prosecution alleged that the demand for Abbas’s release was specifically pursued because of his alleged position as an Ansaru commander. The witness also linked the group to the killing of military officers in Nigeria.
Abbas’s name reportedly appeared on the list of detained members whose release the group demanded.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, Bala Dakum, the DSS operative said the captives’ phones were used to communicate with government officials during negotiations.
He further testified that Abbas was used as a bargaining chip in negotiations aimed at securing the release of a woman and her infant who were being held by the group.
According to the witness, the terrorists threatened to kill all the captives if the government failed to meet their demands.
The witness also told the court that the schoolteacher and church deacon, John Olaleye, was killed and decapitated after the group accused government negotiators of failing to secure Abbas’s release.
The allegations were presented as part of the prosecution’s evidence in the ongoing trial.
Five Defendants Face Terrorism Charges
The five defendants standing trial 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 or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Abu Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.
Justice Salim adjourned the case until November 19 and 20 for continuation of the trial.
