DSS Arraigns Ansaru Commanders Over Alleged Terrorism, Kuje Prison Break

The Department of State Services (DSS), connected Wednesday, arraigned 2 elder commanders of the proscribed panic group, Ansaru, connected aggregate charges of coercion astatine the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The accused are Mahmud Usman, besides known arsenic Abu Bara’a Abbas oregon Mukhtar, and his deputy, Mahmud Al-Nigeri, besides called Malam Mamuda. The DSS filed a 32-count complaint against the duo earlier Justice Emeka Nwite.

According to the complaint sheet, the suspects allegedly masterminded the July 2022 Kuje situation attack, which led to the flight of much than 600 inmates. They are besides accused of orchestrating the 2022 onslaught connected the Nigerian Army’s Wawa Cantonment successful Kainji, Niger State, wherever respective casualties were recorded.

The DSS further alleged that the commanders received extended grooming successful weapons handling, warfare tactics, and improvised explosive instrumentality (IED) fabrication from panic camps successful Mali and Libya, with Mamuda reportedly undergoing specialised grooming betwixt 2013 and 2015 nether overseas jihadist instructors.

They are besides linked to respective high-profile kidnappings, including the abduction of French technologist Francis Collomp successful 2013, and the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura. Other alleged crimes see equipped robberies and a foiled crippled to onslaught a Niger uranium facility.

National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, portion confirming their apprehension during coordinated information operations, described Usman arsenic the “self-styled Emir of Ansaru” who coordinated respective sleeper cells crossed Nigeria. He added that Mamuda acted arsenic his “chief of staff,” heading the alleged Mahmudawa compartment astir Kainji National Park.

Ribadu said the arrests person “effectively dismantled Ansaru’s cardinal bid and paved the mode for its defeat.”

Ansaru, which broke distant from Boko Haram successful January 2012 successful Kano, initially presented itself arsenic a “humane alternative” but soon aligned with planetary jihadist movements. Ribadu noted that the group’s adoption of the Al-Qaeda successful the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) logo underscored its planetary panic links.

In a related case, the DSS besides arraigned Huzaifa Haruna for allegedly transporting 7 M-16 rifles from Dogo colony successful Barkin Ladi, Plateau State, to 1 Wakili Julde successful Wase.