Oyo abduction: Victims drank dirty water, ate rice without salt — Witness - Punch Newspapers

A survivor of the May 15, 2026 abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on Thursday told the Federal High Court in Abuja how the victims spent 56 days in captivity, battling hunger, thirst, exposure and brutal treatment. The witness, identified only as “AAA” to protect her identity, said the victims were moved through six different locations in the bush, often barefoot, sleeping on grass and exposed to heavy rain and the scorching sun. She said some of the victims were children as young as one-and-a-half years, who endured the same conditions as the adults throughout their captivity. The witness gave the account while testifying against five men accused by the Department of State Services of belonging to the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, also known as Ansaru, a proscribed terrorist organisation. The defendants are Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar; Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam or 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. Earlier today, all five defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven counts after they were read to them by the registrar of the court. Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the witness said the abductors stormed the schools on 12 motorcycles, shooting sporadically and preventing the pupils and teachers from escaping. According to her, the victims were then “carted” into the bush, with one motorcycle carrying about four persons, while a Toyota car belonging to one of the teachers was also used to transport some of them. She said the abductors later informed them that they were not being held for ransom but to pressure the government to release detained members of the Ansaru group. The witness said the ordeal took a deadly turn when two teachers, Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun, were killed, adding that the kidnappers carried out the killings after accusing the government of failing to take their demands seriously. “They said the government was not serious about releasing their members,” the witness told the court. She further said the abductors seized their phones and used them to contact relatives and government officials as part of efforts to press their demands. But while negotiations continued, the captives were left struggling for necessities. The witness said water was so scarce that about four victims were sometimes given only one cup of water to share. She added that their food was initially rice mixed with salt and palm oil, but after the salt was exhausted, they ate rice with palm oil until that too ran out. Oyo kidnap victims drank dirty water, ate unsalted rice — Survivor Alaafin’s palace mourns old tortoise Police engage stakeholders over Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau kidnappings “They later gave us only white rice,” she said. The witness said the little children were particularly vulnerable, claiming that the kidnappers flogged them whenever they struggled for food. She added that food was served to them in “a dirty rubber bucket like chicken.” Describing their living conditions, the witness said none of the victims was able to bathe or wash their clothes throughout the 56 days. She said the captives became extremely dirty and were exposed to various dangers before the security forces eventually located them. The witness said the water provided by the abductors was so dirty that the victims had to close their eyes before drinking it. “We had to drink the dirty water just to survive,” she said. According to her, the ordeal finally ended at the sixth camp when security forces engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle and rescued the victims. The witness’ testimony is contained in the prosecution of the five defendants on seven counts bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, conspiracy, aiding terrorism, concealment of information about an impending terrorist act and the killing of the two teachers. The prosecution alleged that Mahmud Muhammad and Abubakar Abbas ordered other members of the group to kidnap and kill Nigerians in different parts of the country to compel the government to release detained Ansaru members. It also alleged that the defendants caused the deaths of Olaleye and Oyedokun, and conspired to kidnap about 46 pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire. The defendants have denied the allegations. Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody throughout the trial. The defence counsel, Bala Dakum, is expected to cross-examine the witness on September 18, 2026. Nathaniel Shaibu Nathaniel Shaibu is a correspondent at The PUNCH with three years of professional journalism experience. He covers the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), civil society, religion, and the Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth Development. In addition to his primary beats, Nathaniel also reports on politics, metro, security, and judicial matters, bringing clarity and balance to a wide range of public-interest stories. His work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, strong beat knowledge, and a commitment to accurate, responsible journalism.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.