Court watches beheading video in Oriire abduction trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has admitted as exhibit a recorded video showing the beheading of abducted Community School, Oriire teacher, Deacon John Olaleye, Daily Post reports.

Justice Ibrahim Salim admitted the video as “Exhibit Oyo1” after it was played in open court, alongside a list of demands marked “Exhibit Oyo2,” in which the terrorists sought the release of 30 detained members in exchange for the abducted Oriire students and teachers. The terrorists claimed the killing followed the Federal Government’s delay in meeting their demands.

The video was tendered during the trial of five Ansaru terrorist group members — Mahmud Muhammad, Abubakar Abbas, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Adamu Sani — by DSS lawyer Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, through a witness codenamed “BBB.” The witness testified that the teacher’s body was dismembered to stop troops from advancing, and that Abubakar Abbas, the second defendant, was specifically demanded for release as a notorious Ansaru commander.

Under cross-examination, the witness said captives’ phones were used to negotiate with government officials, and that Olaleye was killed after negotiators failed to secure Abbas’s release.

The court fixed November 19 and 20 for continuation of the trial.