Court Jails Two Ansaru Commanders for Life Over Terrorism

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, an Al Qaeda affiliated organisation, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism related charges.

Justice Emeka Nwite convicted Mahmud Usman, also known as Isah Adam, and Abubakar Abba, alias Abu Bara, on a 32 count charge filed by the Department of State Services, DSS, on behalf of the Federal Government.

The charges included terrorism, terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining to fund terrorism, fabrication of improvised explosive devices, and maintaining operational links with terrorist groups across the Sahel and Maghreb regions.

Justice Nwite sentenced both convicts to life imprisonment on counts 30 and 31, while imposing 20 years imprisonment on each of the remaining counts. The court ordered that all prison terms take effect from the dates of their arrest between May and July 2025.

Court records showed that Mahmud Usman had earlier pleaded guilty to illegal mining for the purpose of financing terrorism and procuring arms, for which he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment before later admitting guilt to the remaining charges. Abubakar Abba also changed his plea after initially denying the allegations, paving the way for the court to convict and sentence both men in accordance with the law.