Nigeria: Captured 'Ansaru Leaders' Make U-Turn, Plead Guilty to 32 Terrorism Charges

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a Premium Times report from Abuja, says two alleged senior leaders of the Ansaru armed group changed their pleas on Monday, 20 July 2026, and admitted all 32 terrorism-related charges before the Federal High Court. The defendants are Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas and Mukhtar, whom prosecutors described as Ansaru’s self-styled emir, and Abubakar Abba, also known as Mahmud al-Nigeri and Malam Mamuda, alleged to be the group’s deputy leader and chief of staff.

The charges included terrorism, terrorism financing, kidnapping for ransom, illegal mining, funding terrorism and making improvised explosive devices. Premium Times reported that both men had initially denied most or all of the counts when arraigned by the State Security Service on 11 September 2025. Their lawyer, Bala Dakum, told the court they had chosen to abandon their previous position after consultation, and the prosecution did not object to the charges being read again.

Judge Emeka Nwite convicted both defendants after their guilty pleas. The report says he imposed life imprisonment on counts 30 and 31, with additional prison terms on other counts. The defence asked for leniency, citing remorse, health issues and family responsibilities, and said the men were willing to help security agencies with information. Prosecutors argued the pleas were clear and should lead to conviction.

The case matters because Ansaru has been linked by Nigerian authorities to attacks and kidnappings, and officials have described it as affiliated with Al-Qaeda. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu announced the men’s capture in August 2025, saying they were arrested during an intelligence-led, multi-agency operation carried out between May and July 2025.