The DSS made the vow in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie.

In the statement, the DSS gave an update on the prosecution of different terror suspects across the country.

Among those being prosecuted it said, were Usman (aka Abu Bara’a) and Abba (aka Isah Adam and Mahmud Al-Nigeri) who are believed to be leaders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate.

Also being prosecuted are the five men before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

The five are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

Over 40 people died in the attack, while over 100 individuals sustained injuries.

The DSS listed other suspects facing trail and the amount of efforts going into it to ensure quick prosectuion.

The statement reads in full:

On November 19, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja will continue the trial of two terrorism suspects, Mahmud Muhammad Usman and Abubakar Abba, who are wanted internationally.

Usman (aka Abu Bara’a) and Abba (aka Isah Adam and Mahmud Al-Nigeri) were captured in a high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation in July by the Department of State Services (DSS), after several months of chasing them.

The two are believed to be leaders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, commonly known as ANSARU, Nigeria’s Al-Qaeda affiliate

Usman, the self-styled Emir of ANSARU, allegedly coordinated various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He is also believed to have masterminded several high-profile kidnappings and robberies, the proceeds of which were used to finance terrorism over the years.

Abba, Usman’s chief of staff and deputy, is alleged to have led the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell, which operated around the Kainji National Park, located on the border between the states of Niger and Kwara, as well as the Republic of Benin.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in a statement issued on August 16, claimed Mamuda received training in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria. He is said to have specialised in weapons handling and IED fabrication.

Usman and Abba are being tried on a 32-count terrorism charge, and on which they were arraigned in late August.   One of the counts related to illegal mining, to which Usman pleaded guilty and has since been sentenced to 15 years. Abba pleaded not guilty to all the 32 counts.

The DSS is also prosecuting another terror suspect, Khalid Al‑Barnawi, accused of being the mastermind of the August 26, 2011, bombing of the United Nations Complex in Abuja, in which 20 people were killed and more than 70 others injured.

Captured in 2016, Al Barnawi is facing trial along with four other terror suspects – Mohammed Bashir Saleh, Umar Mohammed Bello aka Datti, Mohammed Salisu, and Yakubu Nuhu aka Bello Maishayi.

The trial has been delayed for an extended period due to legal and procedural issues, including the suspects being occasionally brought to court without any counsel appearing for them.

The DSS recently requested the court to grant accelerated hearing in the case, a request Justice Nwite granted.

On October 23 and 24, a trial-within-trial was conducted, during which videos of the defendants’ confessional statements were played in the courtroom.

On August 11, the DSS arraigned five men before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

The five are: Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

Over 40 people died in the attack, while over 100 individuals sustained injuries.

The five defendants were arraigned on a nine-count terrorism charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, in which they are accused among others, of being members of Al Shabab terrorist group, with cell in Kogi State.

The defendants are also alleged to have carried out the attack in furtherance of their religious ideology.

They pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them, following which Justice Nwite ordered that they be remanded in the custody of the prosecuting agency.

In a ruling on September 10 the judge rejected their request for bail on the grounds that they were not only charged with offences that are capital in nature, they are also accused of being members of a notorious terrorist organisation.

Justice Nwite agreed with the prosecuting lawyer that the evidence against the defendants was strong and could not be overlooked.

The judge said the argument by the DSS that the defendants  would jump bail was not disputed by them and deemed to be true.

Also undergoing trial are the suspects arrested in connection with the Yelwata massacre in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State on June 13 2025.

The attack, in which dozens of people were killed and 107 injured, drew worldwide condemnation.  President Bola Tinubu paid a condolence visit to the state and demanded the arrest of the killers and attackers.

On June 24 2025, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, announced the arrest of 26 suspects in connection with the massacre.

In August 2025, the DSS filed terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja, against nine suspects. Two suspects, Haruna Adamu and Muhammad Abdullahi of Awe local government area of Nassarawa state, who are still at large, were charged with four counts of terrorism, among which is the concealment of information about the attacks, before they were staged in Abinsi and Yelwata villages between June 13th and 14th.

In total, the DSS filed six separate charges against the arrested suspects, who are now undergoing trial. They are Adamu and Abdullahi are Musa Beniyon, Bako Malowa, Ibrahim Tunga, Asara Ahnadu, Legu Musa, Adamu Yale, Boddi Ayuba, and Pyeure Damina.

The DSS also charged two other suspects, Terkende Ashuwa and Amos Alede of Guma local government area of Benue State, with three counts for allegedly carrying out reprisal attack against the terror suspects involved in the Abinsi and Yelwata attacks.

Their trial, which is ongoing, before Justice Nwite’s court began with their arraignment in early September, with the defendants pleading not guilty.

Director General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi, said, “The various arrests and trials of terrorism suspects showed 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.

“We shall continue to make the suspects accountable for disrupting the peace of our country, in consonance with the rule of law.”

READ ALSO:

NRC arrests two suspected vandals of Warri-Itakpe train service

Abba Kyari denies ownership of property linked to him

Stocks fall as market loses N612bn

GOCOP, IPC sign MoU on advancing inclusive reporting of gender issues

FirstBank partners with Verve to issue free Verve Debit Cards in flash promo

Tinubu appoints five new Perm Secs

Nigeria on track to hit 2m bpd oil production by 2027 –NNPC

The post DSS gives update on prosecution of suspected terrorists appeared first on Frontpageng.

On Thursday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, gave the verdict and remanded the accused in prison to face 31 other charges.

Commending the judiciary for supporting the efforts of the ministry to crush illegal mining, Alake said the verdict had finally established that bandits engaged in illegal mining to fund their operations.

“It is gratifying for me that the judiciary is aligned with the ministry’s objective of zero tolerance for illegal mining. Further tightening of the noose around illegalities in mining continues as more drastic measures will be announced shortly,” he said.

READ ALSO: Army kills scores of terrorists, rescues 39 victims

Alake said the ministry shall monitor the proceedings of the remaining 31 cases of terrorism against the Ansaru commanders noting that the regulators of the mining sector had a lot to learn from the cases to improve capacity to counter illegal mining.

The minister praised the Directorate of State Security Services, DSS, for the yeoman’s job of monitoring, detecting, and arresting terrorists to face the wrath of the law.

“We shall increase inter-agency collaboration to raise the tempo of surveillance to rid our communities of illegal mining perpetrated by bandits,” the minister stated.

Translated as the Vanguard for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa, the Ansaru group is facing court charges for attacking the Nigerian Army Wawa Cantonment and raiding Kuje Prisons, Abuja, in 2022, among other terrorist activities.

Recall that the minister set up the mining marshals in 2024 to combat illegal mining and improve the security of the sector.

The post Ansaru: Alake hails verdict as victory on war against illegal mining appeared first on Frontpageng.

The two terrorists captured are Mahmud Muhammad Usman (a.k.a. Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (a.k.a. Mallam Mamuda).

The commendation by the United States was given in the X handle of its Mission in Nigeria.

The posts reads: “We commend the Nigerian Government and security forces on the successful arrest of wanted #Ansaru leaders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda). This is a significant forward in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and extremism.”

FrontPage reports that Nigeria recorded a significant breakthrough in the war against terrorism with the capture of the leaders of Ansaru and Mahmuda.

Briefing the press on Saturday, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, said the two terrorists on the wanted list of Nigeria, the US, UK and UN were captured in an operation which was conducted between May and July 2025.

He said the men were captured in a high-risk, intelligence-led, counter-terrorism operation which led to their capture.

Ribadu said the two men had been responsible for masterminding many terrorist attacks against Nigeria over the past years.

Said Ribadu: “The first is Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar), the self-styled Emir of ANSARU. He is the coordinator of various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He is also the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism over the years.

“The second is Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), Abu Bara’s proclaimed Chief of Staff and Deputy. He is the leader of the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell hiding out in and around the Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara States up to Benin Republic. Mamuda trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specialising in weapons handling and IED fabrication.

READ ALSO: UNESCO recognises Sango Festival as world heritage

“These two men have been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years. They jointly spearheaded multiple attacks on civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure. Their operations include the 2022 Kuje prison break, the attack on the Niger uranium facility, the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp in Katsina, and the May 1, 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba (Magajin Garin Daura). They were also behind the abduction of the Emir of Wawa and they maintain active links with terrorist groups across the Maghreb, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

“The two men, who are wanted internationally, are currently in custody.

“The capture of Abu Bara and Mallam Mamuda, the group’s leader and deputy commander, respectively, marks one of the most significant achievements to date in our ongoing effort to rid Nigeria of the threat of terrorism. The successful decapitation of the leadership of this dangerous franchise marks the most decisive blow against ANSARU since its inception. This strike has effectively dismantled its central command while paving the path for the complete annihilation of the group.”

The Ansaru group was first formed in January 2012 with a public declaration in Kano.

It emerged as a splinter faction from Boko Haram, positioning itself as a “humane alternative.”

However, its stated aim quickly turned to attacking Nigerian security operatives, civilian communities and government infrastructure.

The group publicly displayed the setting sun logo of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb , AQIM, signalling its ideological and operational alignment with global jihadist movements.

“Over the years, Ansaru entrenched itself in both urban sleeper cells and forest enclaves across several cities in northern Nigeria and in forest-based enclaves, particularly around Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara States, as well as the Benin Republic,” Ribadu explained.

The post US applauds Nigeria over capture of Ansaru terrorist group leaders appeared first on Frontpageng.

Ribadu told newsmen in Abuja that the intelligence-led operation conducted between May and July decapitated the leadership of the Al-Qaeda-linked group and dealt “the most decisive blow against them.”

He said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the armed forces, intelligence agencies and other security stakeholders.

Ribadu added that the operation was launched against Ansaru enclaves in and around Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara, with links extending into Benin Republic.

He identified one of the suspects as Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar), the self-styled “Emir of Ansaru.”

Ribadu also identified the second suspect as Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Malam Mamuda), Bara’s deputy and Chief of Staff.

He said both suspects had been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years.

READ ALSO: FG blasts Canada over description of PDP, APC as terrorist groups

“Abu Bara was described as the coordinator of terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to fund terrorism.

“His deputy, Malam Mamuda, was said to have trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specialising in weapons handling and Improvised Explosive Device, IED, fabrication,” he said.

The NSA said the two leaders jointly spearheaded multiple terrorist attacks, including the 2022 Kuje prison break and the attack on a Niger uranium facility.

Others, he said, included the 2013 abduction of French engineer, Francis Collomp, in Katsina, the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba (Magajin Garin Daura) and the abduction of the Emir of Wawa.

He added that they were also linked to Ansaru’s networks across Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.

According to him, the capture of Abu Bara and Mamuda marks a turning point.

“It has dismantled Ansaru’s central command structure and signals the beginning of the end to impunity for terrorist leaders in Nigeria,” Ribadu said.

He said security forces also recovered valuable materials and digital evidence during the operation which were now undergoing forensic analysis.

According to him, these are expected to generate further actionable intelligence against residual Ansaru cells and their foreign collaborators.

“This feat exemplifies Nigeria’s advancing counter-terrorism capabilities.

“It followed months of deep surveillance, human intelligence and technical tracking, demonstrating enhanced sophistication and seamless inter-agency synergy,” he added.

The NSA commended President Bola Tinubu for providing strategic guidance as well as the armed forces, intelligence agencies and security services for their doggedness in achieving the success.

He reassured Nigerians that the government would sustain the momentum, stressing that the fight against terrorism was far from over.

“Nigeria will continue to pursue extremists with precision, resolve and unwavering determination,” he added.

He also called on citizens to remain vigilant and provide timely information to security agencies, noting that “national security is a shared responsibility.”

In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, commended the military and other security forces for the collaborative efforts.

He also urged the media to continue to deny the terrorists the opportunity to use the media to propagate their evil agenda.

“It is incumbent on all of us to ensure that we work collaboratively together so that Nigeria can be safe again,” he said.

Source: NAN

The post How security forces captured top Ansaru terrorist leaders -NSA appeared first on Frontpageng.

The Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, DCP Frank Mba disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

The Police on Wednesday invaded the terrorist camp in Kaduna State and killed over 250 terrorists and bandits.

Mba said the police counter-terrorism operations successfully neutralized the operational bases of the Ansaru Terrorists’ Group and bandits.

He said one Haruna Basullube, one of the most wanted kidnappers/cattle rustlers in the country and Bashir Leta, another notorious bandits’ commander were killed during the operation.

Mba said a Commander of Boko Haram camp in Kuduru Forest, Malam Abba and one Mofa, surname unknown, a notorious kidnapper were critically injured.

He said the exhibits recovered by the Police during the operation are 11 AK47 rifles, 730 rounds of live AK47 ammunition, 152 rounds of GPMG ammunition in two chains and 13 pairs of military camouflage uniforms.

Mba said other items recovered are two cartons and 48 sachets of tramadol, four face masks, phones and other electronic gadgets.

According to him, in spite of the successes of the operation, one Inspector Muhammed Abubakar attached to the Police Special Forces died as a result of injuries sustained in the heat of the combat.

He said 13 other officers, including the Pilot and Co-pilot of the police helicopter, used during the operation sustained different degrees of injuries and were currently receiving treatment.

The FPRO said the late Abubakar was one of the finest officers of the Police Special Forces with vast training and operational background, both at home and abroad.

He said the deceased was among the pioneer set of the Police Special Forces trained in Belarus.

“Born on July 8, 1985, he was enlisted into the Nigeria Police on June 1, 2008 as a Constable and rose to the rank of Inspector of Police before his untimely death.

“As a member of the Special Forces, he participated in several successful Police operations and joint missions with the military in the fight against insurgency.

“While condoling with the family, friends, and professional colleagues of the late officer, the I-G restates the commitment of the force to the safety of its personnel and the nation,” he said.

The I-G, according to Mba urged citizens living in and around Birnin-Gwari axis of Kaduna State to be on the look out for fleeing bandits especially those with bullet wounds and report every suspicious behaviour to the Police.

Source: NAN

The post Ansaru operations: I-G deploys detectives, forensic investigators appeared first on Frontpageng.