The Department of State Services (DSS) has announced plans to appeal the life sentences imposed on two senior commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, arguing that the punishment does not adequately reflect the gravity of their crimes.
The decision follows Monday’s judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to 32 terrorism-related charges, including terrorism financing, kidnapping, illegal mining, and the manufacture of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
A senior DSS official said the agency believes the life sentence is too lenient, particularly given the alleged role of the convicts in terrorist operations linked to the kidnapping of pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State.
According to the official, the terrorists had demanded the release of the two Ansaru commanders as a condition for freeing the abducted victims. The DSS further alleged that the convicts changed their plea to guilty only after the successful rescue operation ended the hostage crisis.
The agency also maintained that a stronger penalty is necessary in light of the reported killing of two teachers during the abduction, insisting that justice must reflect the severity of the offences and the impact on the victims and their families.
The DSS said it will pursue an appeal seeking the maximum penalty permitted under the law.
