Nigerian Government to Arraign Senior Ansaru Commanders on Terrorism Charges

The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to arraign two senior commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The two high-profile defendants, identified as Mahmud Muhammed Usman and Abubakar Abba, were captured in a high-risk intelligence operation and face a 32-count charge related to terrorism. They will be arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite.

Details of the Charges and Capture

The charge, filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney-General, alleges that the men conspired and aided acts of terrorism between 2013 and 2015. They are accused of being top commanders of the proscribed Ansaru group. Specific charges include receiving training in weapons handling and the fabrication of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from terrorist camps abroad. They are also accused of receiving training in war tactics from a terrorist group in Mali and contributing to the deadly attack on the Wawa Cantonment of the Nigerian Army in 2022.

According to the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the two men had been on both national and international terror watch lists. Their capture, part of a series of intelligence-led counter-terrorism operations, was announced in August 2025 as a major victory against the Al-Qaeda-affiliated network.