Oriire School Kidnapping: Survivors Reveal Starvation and Beheadings in Terror Trial

ABUJA, Nigeria—A survivor of the devastating Oriire school abduction in Oyo State shared harrowing details of starvation, psychological trauma, and brutal killings during a court testimony on Friday.

The witness, testifying under the pseudonym AAA, took the stand during the ongoing trial of five suspected members of the Ansaru terror group accused of orchestrating the mass kidnapping.

Starvation and Survival in the Forest

During cross-examination by defense counsel Bala Dakum, Witness AAA recounted how the captors weaponized food, leaving the hostages to starve for long stretches. The terrorists allegedly provided food only at their own convenience, showing no mercy even to the 18-month-old toddlers among the victims.

The witness also confirmed that the kidnappers used the hostages’ mobile phones to negotiate with government officials, though she could not identify the specific phone numbers dialed.

‘Two Teachers Beheaded’

The testimony shed light on the tragic fate of school staff members Michael Oyedoku and John Olaleye, who were murdered during the ordeal.

Witness AAA testified that both teachers were killed at separate locations, designated as Camp A and Camp B. While she was not a direct eyewitness to the final moments of their deaths, she confirmed they were brutally beheaded by the terrorists. Because she was kept away from the execution sites, she could not identify which specific militants carried out the killings.

Identifying the Terror Suspects

When questioned about the five defendants currently on trial, the survivor identified three of them as active guards who held them captive in the forest. She noted that the identities of the remaining two suspects were revealed to her later during interrogations by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Following their rescue by security operatives, the survivors underwent extensive debriefing and medical evaluations, with DSS operatives conducting interviews both at their headquarters and at the hospital.

Trial Adjourned

Presiding Judge Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim has adjourned the case, fixing October 12 and 13 for the continuation of the trial.

The trial stems from a horrific 2026 security breach in Oriire, South-West Nigeria, where terrorists ambushed a school and abducted 49 people, including young children and teachers. The hostages endured 57 days in captivity before being rescued by security forces. Two teachers lost their lives during the crisis.