The Department of State Services (DSS) has provided an update on the ongoing prosecution of terrorism suspects across the country, reaffirming its commitment to upholding justice and accountability in accordance with the rule of law.
In a statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the Service announced that the trial of two terrorism suspects, Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Abubakar Abba, will continue on November 19 before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Mr Dozie explained that “the suspects — Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and Abba, also known as Isah Adam and Mahmud Al-Nigeri — were apprehended in July during a high-risk, intelligence-led counter-terrorism operation conducted by the DSS after several months of pursuit.”
According to the DSS Information Chief, the duo are believed to be leaders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU), an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria. Usman, the self-styled Emir of ANSARU, allegedly coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across the country and masterminded high-profile kidnappings and robberies used to finance terrorism.
Abba, described as Usman’s deputy and head of the “Mahmudawa” cell, allegedly operated around the Kainji National Park, spanning parts of Niger, Kwara, and the Republic of Benin.
He recalled that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) stated on August 16 that Usman received training in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, where he specialised in weapons handling and IED fabrication.
Both men are facing a 32-count terrorism charge. Usman, who pleaded guilty to one count related to illegal mining, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, while Abba pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Mr Dozie further disclosed that the DSS is also prosecuting Khalid Al-Barnawi, the alleged mastermind of the August 26, 2011 bombing of the United Nations Complex in Abuja that killed 20 people and injured over 70 others.
Arrested in 2016, Al-Barnawi is standing trial alongside Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello (aka Datti), Mohammed Salisu, and Yakubu Nuhu (aka Bello Maishayi).
The trial, which has faced several delays due to legal and procedural challenges, recently resumed after the DSS requested an accelerated hearing — a request granted by Justice Nwite. During the October 23 and 24 proceedings, videos of the defendants’ confessional statements were played in court.
In another case, on August 11, the DSS arraigned five men before the Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, where over 40 people were killed and more than 100 were injured.
The defendants — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar — face a nine-count terrorism charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025), including allegations of belonging to the Al Shabab terrorist group with a cell in Kogi State.
They pleaded not guilty and were remanded in DSS custody. On September 10, Justice Nwite denied them bail, ruling that the offences were capital in nature and that the evidence against them was strong.
Also in progress is the trial of suspects linked to the June 13, 2025, Yelwata massacre in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, which claimed dozens of lives and left 107 people injured.
Following President Bola Tinubu’s condolence visit and directive for arrests, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced the arrest of 26 suspects on June 24, 2025.
In August, the DSS charged nine of them before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Two suspects — Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi of Awe Local Government Area, Nasarawa State — remain at large. They, along with others including Musa Beniyon, Bako Malowa, Ibrahim Tunga, Asara Ahnadu, Legu Musa, Adamu Yale, Boddi Ayuba, and Pyeure Damina, are “facing terrorism-related charges.”
Two additional suspects, Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede of Guma Local Government Area, are also being tried for allegedly carrying out reprisal attacks against those involved in the Abinsi and Yelwata incidents.
Their trial, ongoing before Justice Nwite, began in early September, with both defendants pleading not guilty.
Speaking on the series of trials, DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, said; “the arrests and prosecutions reflect the diligence of Nigeria’s security agencies in combating terrorism.”
Ajayi said; “The various arrests and trials of terrorism suspects show that Nigeria’s security agencies have been diligent in dealing with the perpetrators of terror in the country…
“The men we are prosecuting are separate from the hundreds of suspects under the military’s protective custody, whose cases are being handled by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. In July last year, 125 of the terrorists were convicted.”
He promised that the DSS would continue to ensure accountability for those disrupting the peace of the nation “in consonance with the rule of law.”
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