The Federal Government will on Thursday arraign two top commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, an Al-Qaeda-affiliated network, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The commanders are Mahmud Muhammed Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a/Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, also called Isah Adam/Mahmud Al-Nigeri.
They are scheduled to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite on a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism. Abu Bara’a is listed as the first defendant, while Mahmud Al-Nigeri, popularly known as Mallam Mamuda, is the second defendant in the case marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025.
The charge, dated and filed on Sept. 4 by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, was brought on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
In count one, the accused were alleged to have aided and abetted acts of terrorism between 2013 and 2015, including their involvement as founding members and senior commanders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
“You thereby commit an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and punishable under the same Section of the Act,” the charge stated.
Further counts alleged that they received training in weapons handling, fabrication of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and war tactics at terrorist camps, including from Jama’atu Nusratil Islami Wal Muslimin (JNIM) in Mali.
They were also accused of contributing to the 2022 attack on Wawa Cantonment of the Nigerian Army in Kainji, New-Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, which resulted in mass casualties.
Abu Bara’a and Mahmud Al-Nigeri were recently captured during intelligence-led operations conducted by Nigeria’s security and intelligence services between May and July 2025.
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, announced their arrest on Aug. 16 while briefing journalists in Abuja, noting that both men had been on national and international terror watch lists.
Ansaru is linked to several high-profile attacks and kidnappings across Nigeria.
(NAN)