Two suspected senior commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, including its self-styled emir, Mahmud Usman, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, have changed their plea and admitted guilt to a 32-count terrorism charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The development marks a major shift in the trial of the suspects, who were initially arraigned by the Department of State Services in September 2025 and had pleaded not guilty.
Their lawyer, Bala Dakum, told Justice Emeka Nwite that the defendants decided to change their pleas after consultations. The charges were subsequently read again after the DSS raised no objection.
Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge linked to illegal mining activities allegedly used to fund terrorism and arms acquisition, for which he was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. He had denied other allegations, while Abba maintained his not-guilty plea until Monday’s development.
The DSS accused the two men of leading Ansaru operations, including the 2022 attack on the Nigerian Army’s Wawa Cantonment in Kainji, Niger State, and involvement in several terrorist activities and high-profile kidnappings.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced their arrest in August 2025, identifying them as the group’s emir and deputy emir.
