The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned two senior commanders of the proscribed terrorist organization Ansaru, marking a significant development in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism. Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a Abbas or Mukhtar, and his deputy Mahmud Al‑Nigeri, called Malam Mamuda, faced 32 counts at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The charges relate to an attack on the Nigerian Army’s Wawa Cantonment in Kainji, Niger State, in 2022, which caused mass casualties. Prosecutors allege that the two received training in weapons handling, war tactics and improvised explosive device (IED) fabrication at terrorist camps, including instruction from a militant group in Mali. Mamuda is also said to have trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors.
The DSS further accuses the commanders of masterminding the July 2022 Kuje prison attack that freed more than 600 inmates, of planning an assault on the Niger uranium facility, and of involvement in multiple kidnappings, such as the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp. Additional alleged crimes include the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura, and several armed robberies.
National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu confirmed the arrests during coordinated security operations, describing Usman as the “self‑styled Emir of Ansaru” and the 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 of Boko Haram, initially presenting itself as a “humane alternative” before turning to violent attacks. The group’s adoption of the Al‑Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) logo underscores its global jihadist links. The detention of Usman and Mamuda is viewed as a major blow to Ansaru’s central command and a step toward its defeat.
In a related case, the DSS arraigned Huzaifa Haruna for allegedly transporting seven M‑16 rifles in Plateau State. These arrests and arraignments demonstrate the Nigerian authorities’ commitment to combating terrorism and addressing the country’s security challenges. The upcoming trials are expected to shed further light on Ansaru’s activities and its connections to other terrorist organizations.
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