A Department of State Services (DSS) witness told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday that 49 students and teachers abducted from Oyo State endured 56 days of harsh treatment before their rescue.

Testifying before Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim, the witness identified as “AAA” for security reasons stated that the victims were marched barefoot through six different locations and forced to sleep on grass under harsh weather conditions.

Led in evidence by Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, the witness noted that the abductees included children as young as 18 months and pre-nursery pupils.

According to the testimony, armed men on roughly 12 motorcycles invaded the schools while shooting sporadically to block any escape. Each motorcycle reportedly carried about four people, and a teacher’s Toyota vehicle was also commandeered to transport the victims into the bush.

The witness stated that the leader of the kidnappers informed the captives they were being held to secure the release of detained Ansaru group members rather than for a monetary ransom.

During the 56-day ordeal, two teachers were allegedly taken away and killed after the captors accused the government of failing to take their demands seriously. The kidnappers also used seized mobile phones to contact relatives and officials.

Describing the conditions, the witness said the victims suffered from severe hunger and extreme thirst, noting that four people had to share a single cup of foul-smelling water. Meals deteriorated from a mixture of rice, salt, and palm oil to plain white rice as supplies dwindled.

The witness added that young children were sometimes flogged to prevent them from fighting over food, and none of the captives were able to bathe or wash their clothes throughout the entire period.

The ordeal ended at the sixth camp when security forces engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle and successfully rescued the victims.

Defence counsel Bala Dakum is scheduled to cross-examine the witness on Friday, September 18, while Justice Ibrahim ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody for the duration of the trial.