The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed terrorism charges against two high-ranking Ansaru commanders who were alleged to have launched violent attacks in Nigeria, including the Kuje prison break in 2022.
The suspects, Mahmud Muhammad Usman, aka Abu Bara’a Abbas, aka Mukhtar, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, aka Malam Mamuda, were arrested in operations at various locations in early 2023. Usman is called the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy was called the chief of staff.
According to the DSS, the two commanders led and funded Ansaru operations, recruited fighters, and coordinated attacks across Nigeria. They were also involved in major kidnappings of high-profile individuals such as: French engineer, Francis Collomp, taken in 2013; Magajin Garin Daura, Musa Uba was taken in 2019; and the Emir of Wawa, who was also taken.
The DSS said the two were the masterminds of the July 2022 attack on the Kuje prison, in Abuja, which allowed over 600 prisoners to escape, including Boko Haram suspects. Mamuda was trained to be a jihadist in Libya between 2013 and 2015, including explosives training on ablative techniques and weapon handling, while Abu Bara’a allegedly operated sleeper cells across every state in Nigeria.
Ribadu, National Security Adviser, confirmed the arrests, calling them a major coup in counter-terrorism operations. The two will soon be charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The arrests and charges also come at a time when Nigeria, with support from international partners, is working to destroy insurgent networks, including a defence pact with the U.S. to enhance security operations.
Security analysts claim that prosecutions of these commanders might mark a moment in curtailing Ansaru’s resurgence, while also saying the immediate challenge is eradicating the remaining networks and preventing counter-attacks.
More breaking news at the Homepage