A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued life sentences to two prominent commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba. Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the ruling on Monday after the defendants, who are linked to Al-Qaeda, entered guilty pleas regarding 32 terrorism charges filed by the Department of State Services.
The court imposed life imprisonment for counts 30 and 31, while issuing 20-year terms for the remaining counts, all effective from the time of their original arrests. The legal proceedings detailed that Usman, from Kogi State, and Abba, from Katsina State, were instrumental in coordinating attacks and kidnappings between 2013 and 2015. Investigations revealed the pair received specialized training in explosives and combat tactics from the Mali-based JNIM group. Usman specifically served as a coordinator for sleeper cells and managed the financing of terror activities through robberies and ransom collections.
These convictions follow intelligence-led operations conducted between May and July 2025, which led to the capture of both individuals. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu confirmed their arrest in August, noting that both men had been subjects of extensive terror watch lists. The court’s decision concludes a complex legal process involving multiple charges of illegal mining and violent terrorism.
