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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Following yesterday’s conviction and life-sentencing of the commanders of an Al-Qaeda-linked group, Ansaru, jubilation erupted in so many homes and quarters, especially in the northern part of the country.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, sentenced Abubakar Abba, commander of the Ansaru terrorist group, to life imprisonment on terrorism charges brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Apart from the families affected by Abba’s criminal activities ranging from terrorism to kidnapping and banditry, Nigerians are generally happy that such heartless terrorists have been permanently severed from the society; a development they said was a plus for the fight against insecurity in the country.
Abba, also known as Abu Bara, was convicted alongside his co-defendant, Mahmud Usman, alias Isah Adam/Mahmud, after both pleaded guilty yesterday to a 32-count terrorism charge filed by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivering the judgment, sentenced the commanders to life imprisonment on counts 30 and 31, and 20 years’ imprisonment each on the remaining counts.
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The judge ordered that the sentences on the other counts should run from the date of their arrest.
DSS operatives arrested the suspects separately between May and July 2025.
The charges included terrorism and terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as well as coordinating sleeper cells and terrorist attacks.
The prosecution also linked the convicts to terrorist networks operating in the Sahel-Maghreb region.
At their arraignment, Usman had separately pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of illegal mining to finance terrorism and procure arms, for which he was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.
A group, Concerned Nigerians (CN), led by Paul Orji, commended the judgement, saying, “It’s in good direction to checkmate and eliminate terrorism in Nigeria. Nigerians are jubilating and celebrating the beginning of peace in the country.”
