By George Omagbemi Sylvester
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two senior commanders of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism-related offences. The judgment was delivered on Monday, July 20, 2026, by Justice Emeka Nwite, following the successful prosecution of the suspects by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The convicts, Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and Abubakar Abba, popularly called Mahmud Al-Nigeri or Mallam Mamuda, admitted guilt to a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, conspiracy and membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation.
Prosecutors identified the duo as among the most senior leaders of Ansaru, a group designated by the Nigerian government as a terrorist organisation with links to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
According to the DSS, the two commanders were arrested in separate intelligence-led operations conducted between May and July 2025 after years on Nigeria’s most-wanted list.
The security agency said their convictions represent a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing counter-terrorism efforts against extremist groups responsible for deadly attacks, kidnappings and other violent crimes.
The convictions have been welcomed by security analysts as a major boost to Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.
However, the DSS has indicated its intention to appeal the sentence, arguing that life imprisonment is too lenient given the gravity of the offences and the devastating impact of the group’s activities on national security.
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