The Federal Government has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that two alleged leaders of the Ansaru terrorist group, standing trial for terrorism-related offences, are wanted by the United States and the United Kingdom over alleged acts of terror.
The disclosure was made on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during the trial of five alleged Ansaru members being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The defendants include Mahmud Muhammad, also known as Abu Bara’a and Abbas Mukhtar, and Abubakar Abbas, also known as Isah Adam and Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri.
During the proceedings, Justice Ibrahim Salim admitted into evidence a video showing the alleged beheading of a church deacon and a schoolteacher abducted in Oriire, Oyo State.
The footage was admitted 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 list reportedly contained the names of 30 suspected Ansaru members allegedly being held in detention facilities across the country.
A DSS operative, identified by the codename BBB, who testified as part of the investigation into the Oriire abduction, 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 said the footage was released while the group held the abductees, hoping to secure a possible prisoner swap.
He further testified that the terrorists threatened to kill the captives, including infants, schoolchildren and women, if the government failed to meet their demands.
According to the operative, the teacher’s body was cut into pieces after the killing in an alleged attempt to prevent security operatives from advancing on the group’s forest hideout.
The video was tendered in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, who appeared for the DSS through the witness.
The prosecution alleged that the demand for Abubakar 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 the group allegedly demanded should be released.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, Bala Dakum, the witness said the abductees’ phones were used to communicate with government officials during negotiations.
He further told the court that Abbas was used as a bargaining chip in negotiations for 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 operative also testified that John Olaleye, identified as a schoolteacher and church deacon, was killed and decapitated after the group accused government negotiators of failing to secure Abbas’s release.
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, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
