DSS To Appeal Ansaru Commanders’ Life Sentences, Seek Death Penalty

The State Security Service says it will appeal the life sentences handed to two Ansaru commanders and ask for the death penalty.

The new position comes after the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, and Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Malam Mamuda, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism charges.

The case follows NaijaTrend’s earlier report here on the convictions.

Premium Times reported that a top SSS official considered the life terms too light for the crimes linked to the commanders. TheCable also reported that the service would challenge the sentence.

The SSS official linked the case to the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, saying the abductors had demanded the commanders’ release as one of their conditions.

The two men were convicted after a 32-count terrorism charge. TheCable described Usman as the self-styled emir of Ansaru and al-Nigeri as his deputy and chief of staff.

Sources: Premium Times, TheCable