A survivor of the May 15 school abduction in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has told the Federal High Court in Abuja how 49 students and teachers spent 56 days in captivity under harsh conditions.

The witness, identified as “AAA” to protect her identity, gave evidence on Thursday during the trial of five men accused by the Department of State Services of involvement in the abduction and alleged membership of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, known as Ansaru.

She told Justice Salim Ibrahim that the victims were moved between six locations in the bush, often barefoot, and forced to sleep on grass while exposed to heavy rain and intense sunshine.

According to the witness, children as young as one and a half years old were among those held captive.

She said the abductors stormed the schools on 12 motorcycles while firing guns and preventing the students and teachers from escaping. Some victims were transported on the motorcycles, while a Toyota car belonging to one of the teachers was also used.

The witness said the kidnappers’ leader told them they were being held to demand the release of detained members of the Ansaru group rather than for ransom.

She further alleged that two teachers, Deacon John Olaleye and Michael Oyedokun, were brought out and killed on separate occasions after the abductors accused the government of failing to meet their demands.

The victims, she said, also had their phones seized and used by the kidnappers to contact relatives and government officials.

Describing the conditions in captivity, the witness said the victims suffered severe hunger and water shortages. At one point, about four people were made to share one cup of water.

She said their food initially consisted of rice, salt and palm oil. After the supplies ran out, they were left with rice and eventually only white rice.

The witness also alleged that some of the younger children were flogged while eating and that food was served in a dirty rubber bucket.

She said the victims could not bathe or wash their clothes throughout the 56 days and were forced to drink dirty water to survive.

According to her, security forces eventually reached the victims at the sixth camp, where gunfire was exchanged before the captives were rescued.

The five defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their defence lawyer, Bala Dakum, is expected to cross-examine the witness on September 18.

Justice Ibrahim has also ordered that the defendants remain in DSS custody throughout the trial.