Nigeria state security service on Thursday open di trial of five suspected members of Islamist group Ansaru over di abduction of pupils and teachers from schools for southwestern Oyo state.

• Di defendants — Mahmud Muhammad, Abubakar Abbas, Abdulrazak Umar, Yunusa Musa and Shamsu Sani — plead not guilty to seven terrorism-related counts before Federal High Court Judge Salim Ibrahim for Abuja.

• Dem face sentences wey range from 20 years to life imprisonment if dem convict dem. If prosecutors prove say deaths result from di kidnapping, dem fit face death penalty, under Nigeria 2022 anti-terrorism law.

• Di first prosecution witness, wey dem identify only as "AAA", tell di court say gunmen enter di schools on May 15, fire shots before dem carry seven teachers and 39 pupils go inside forest, where dem hold dem for 56 days.

• Prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo seek protection for witnesses, citing how di case sensitive. Defence lawyer Bala Dakum no object but request permission to see witnesses during cross-examination. Di judge grant both requests.

• Mass kidnappings for ransom don spread across Nigeria, though large school raids no too common for southwest.

• For July, di presidency talk say security forces don rescue 39 pupils and six teachers and arrest eight suspected kidnappers.

• For May, one teacher die for captivity and security personnel wound by explosives during one attempted rescue.