Two Ansaru Commanders Plead Guilty to Terrorism, Kidnapping, Financing Charges
Two senior commanders of the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru have pleaded guilty to a 32 count charge bordering on terrorism, terrorism financing, kidnapping and other related offences before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The suspects, Mahmud Usman , also known as Abu Bara'a or Abbas Mukhtar , and Abubakar Abba , also known as Isah Adam , Mahmud Al Nigeri or Mallam Mamuda , admitted to the charges during proceedings before Justice Emeka Nwite . The duo were initially arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) in September 2025. At the time, Usman pleaded guilty to a single count relating to illegal mining used to finance terrorism and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment , while both defendants denied the remaining charges. However, in the latest proceedings, they changed their pleas and admitted guilt to the broader allegations contained in the 32 count charge . The charges include terrorism financing through illegal mining, kidnapping for ran...