The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned two senior commanders of the proscribed terrorist organization Ansaru, marking a significant development in the country’s efforts to combat terrorism. Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a Abbas/Mukhtar, and his deputy, Mahmud Al-Nigeri, also called Malam Mamuda, were charged with 32 counts at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suspects are accused of attacking the Nigerian Army’s Wawa Cantonment in Kainji, Niger State, in 2022, resulting in mass casualties. They also allegedly received training in weapons handling, war tactics, and improvised explosive device (IED) fabrication from terrorist camps, including training in war tactics from a terrorist organization in Mali. Mamuda is said to have trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors.
The DSS also accuses the commanders of masterminding the July 2022 Kuje prison attack, which freed over 600 inmates. They are also linked to the planned attack on the Niger uranium facility and multiple kidnappings, including the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp. Other alleged crimes include the 2019 abduction of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura, and several armed robberies.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu confirmed the arrest of the suspects during coordinated security operations, describing Usman as the “self-styled Emir of Ansaru” and coordinator of several terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. Ribadu noted that Mamuda served as his “chief of staff,” leading the “Mahmudawa” cell around Kainji National Park.
Ansaru emerged in January 2012 in Kano as a splinter faction from Boko Haram, initially portraying itself as a “humane alternative” before turning to violent attacks. The group’s adoption of the logo of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) highlights its global jihadist links. The arrests of Usman and Mamuda are seen as a significant blow to Ansaru’s central command, paving the way for its defeat.
In a related case, the DSS arraigned Huzaifa Haruna for allegedly transporting seven M-16 rifles in Plateau State. The arrests and arraignments demonstrate the Nigerian authorities’ commitment to combating terrorism and addressing the country’s security challenges. The trials of the suspects are expected to provide further insight into the activities of Ansaru and its links to other terrorist organizations.
