In a major victory against terrorism, the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two convicted members of the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Ansaru to life imprisonment, bringing an end to a high-profile terrorism trial prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The convicts, Abubakar Abba, popularly known as Abu Bara and identified as a commander of the terrorist group, alongside Mahmud Usman, also known as Isah Adam or Mahmud, admitted guilt to a 32-count terrorism charge filed by the Federal Government through the DSS.
Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Emeka Nwite imposed life imprisonment on both men for two of the most serious counts in the case. The court also sentenced them to 20 years imprisonment on the remaining charges, with the judge directing that those prison terms begin from the date they were arrested.
The convictions followed investigations that linked the duo to a series of terrorist activities across Nigeria and beyond. Authorities accused them of coordinating sleeper cells, supporting violent attacks, maintaining links with extremist networks operating across the Sahel and Maghreb regions, and participating in several criminal operations designed to finance terrorism.
The charges also included terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, fabrication of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and other offences considered major threats to Nigeria’s national security.
Security agencies disclosed that the two suspects were arrested in separate intelligence-led operations carried out by the DSS between May and July 2025. Their arrests were described as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist financing networks and disrupt extremist activities across the country.
Mahmud Usman had earlier pleaded guilty to a separate charge of illegal mining used to finance terrorism and the procurement of arms, for which he had already received a 15-year prison sentence before the latest judgment.
The ruling has been welcomed as another significant step in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, with many observers expecting it to strengthen ongoing efforts to hold terror financiers and operatives accountable under the law.
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