The Department of State Services (DSS) says it will appeal the life sentences imposed on two senior commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite has sentenced Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas and Mukhtar, the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and Abubakar Abba, also known as Mahmud al-Nigeri and Malam Mamuda, to life imprisonment after they plead guilty to all 32 charges against them.
In a statement, the DSS says it considers the life sentences too lenient given the gravity of the offences committed by the two men.
The Service also says it finds it curious that the defendants changed their decision to plead guilty shortly after the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, by persons believed to be members of the same Ansaru group.
“For the nearly 60 days the kidnappers held the pupils and teachers of Oriire, the Ansaru commanders in our custody changed their position.
“One of the top conditions the abductors gave was the unconditional release of these same Ansaru commanders in exchange for the Oriire kidnap victims.
“From an initial not guilty plea, the two men, at the penultimate court session, said they were undecided on what plea to take. Justice Nwite had to give them until Monday’s sitting to make up their minds.
“After the Oriire rescue, they came to court and pleaded guilty to all the charges,” the statement says.
According to the DSS, allowing the two convicted terrorists to serve only life sentences would not serve the cause of justice for the two Oriire teachers who were beheaded by their abductors.
“The reason the terrorists beheaded the two Oriire teachers was to put pressure on the government to release these two Ansaru commanders.
“It would not be fair for two men to be beheaded and their families left to live with the loss without adequately bringing the culprits to justice,” the statement adds.
