BREAKING: Nigerian Govt Drags Captured Ansaru Commanders to Court on 32-Count Terrorism Charges

In a landmark move against terrorism, the Federal Government of Nigeria will on Thursday arraign two globally wanted commanders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (Ansaru), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist network, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The defendants, Mahmud Muhammed Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar), from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba (also known as Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri), from Daura LGA of Katsina State, are facing a staggering 32-count charge of terrorism-related offences.

The case will be heard by Justice Emeka Nwite, with the charges filed on September 4 by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, M.B. Abubakar, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

Explosive Allegations Against the Suspects

The charges span over a decade of terror activities, from 2013 to 2022, and include:

Aiding and abetting terrorism and spearheading the formation of Ansaru, a proscribed organisation in Nigeria.

Training in weapons handling and fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at various terrorist camps.

Receiving war tactics training from Jama’atu Nusratil Islami Wal Muslimin (JNIM), a terrorist group operating in Mali.

Contributing to the deadly attack on Wawa Cantonment of the Nigerian Army in Kainji, Niger State, in 2022, which left multiple casualties.


These offences, according to the charge sheet, violate several provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

The Arrests: A Breakthrough in Counterterrorism

The two Ansaru commanders were dramatically captured alive in a high-risk, intelligence-led, multi-agency operation conducted between May and July 2025.

Their arrests were announced in August by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who hailed the operation as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s war on terror. Ribadu stressed that the capture of the notorious commanders signaled “the beginning of the end of impunity for terrorist leaders” who for years had operated with seeming untouchability.

Both men, long on national and international terror watchlists, are regarded as among the most dangerous terrorist leaders linked to kidnappings, ambushes, and high-profile attacks across Nigeria.

Ansaru’s Bloody Legacy

Ansaru, formed as a splinter group from Boko Haram, has been tied to several high-profile crimes, including the kidnapping of foreign nationals, targeted assassinations, and collaboration with international jihadist organisations. Security experts warn that the trial of its top commanders may expose a broader network of financiers and foreign links.

With the arraignment set to begin, Nigerians and the international community are watching closely, as the trial could become one of the most significant terror prosecutions in the nation’s history.