BREAKING: ANSARU COMMANDERS JAILED FOR LIFE AS DSS MOVES TO CHALLENGE SENTENCE

ANSARU COMMANDERS JAILED FOR LIFE AS DSS MOVES TO CHALLENGE SENTENCE

Two senior commanders of the terrorist group Ansaru have been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja after pleading guilty to multiple terrorism-related offences, while the Department of State Services (DSS) has announced plans to appeal the judgment, describing the punishment as inadequate.

Justice Emeka Nwite convicted Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara'a, Abbas and Mukhtar, identified by prosecutors as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and Abubakar Abba, also known as Mahmud al-Nigeri and Malam Mamuda, after they admitted guilt to a 32-count charge filed by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government.

The charges included terrorism, terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining to fund terrorist activities, fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other related offences.

The court sentenced both men to life imprisonment on two counts relating to financing terrorism through proceeds from illegal mining and kidnapping ransoms. Justice Nwite also imposed 20-year prison terms on the remaining counts, ordering that all sentences run from the dates of their arrests between May and July 2025.

Before the final judgment, Usman had already been sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to a separate count involving illegal mining for terrorism financing.

During sentencing, the defence urged the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that both convicts had shown remorse, accepted responsibility, and were willing to provide intelligence to security agencies to support Nigeria's counter-terrorism efforts. The defence also cited their health conditions and family responsibilities in seeking a lighter sentence.

Following the judgment, the DSS expressed dissatisfaction, stating that it would challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

According to the agency, the sentence did not adequately reflect the gravity of the offences. The DSS further alleged that kidnappers involved in the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State had demanded the release of the two Ansaru commanders as a condition for freeing the victims.

The agency also claimed that two teachers were killed during the abduction, alleging that the murders were intended to pressure the government into releasing the convicted commanders.

Court records showed that the two men were prosecuted for coordinating terrorist sleeper cells, maintaining operational links with extremist groups across the Sahel and Maghreb regions, financing terrorist operations, and participating in several high-profile kidnappings.

Authorities have also linked the convicts to several major attacks, including the 2022 Kuje Correctional Centre attack in Abuja, where hundreds of inmates escaped, as well as other kidnappings and assaults on security facilities.

The case was prosecuted under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, with the Federal Government maintaining that the convictions represent a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in Nigeria.