The Department of State Services (DSS) has announced plans to challenge the life sentences imposed on two senior commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, arguing that the punishment is too lenient considering the severity of their crimes.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, on Monday sentenced Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, and Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Malam Mamuda, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to a 32-count terrorism charge.
Usman was identified in court as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, while al-Nigeri was described as his deputy and chief of staff.
The convictions followed the defendants’ decision to change their plea from not guilty to guilty. Their lawyer urged the court to show leniency before Justice Nwite delivered the life sentences.
Reacting to the judgment, a senior DSS official said the agency believes the sentence does not adequately reflect the gravity of the offences and confirmed that it would seek a stiffer punishment on appeal.
According to the official, the two men had earlier indicated they would plead guilty but later changed their position around the time pupils and teachers were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State by suspected Ansaru members.
The official alleged that during the nearly 60-day captivity of the victims, the abductors demanded the unconditional release of the two Ansaru commanders as a condition for freeing the hostages.
The DSS further claimed that the defendants initially maintained a not guilty plea and later informed the court they were undecided on how they would plead, prompting Justice Nwite to issue them an ultimatum to decide before Monday’s hearing.
Following the rescue of the Oriire victims, the two men returned to court and pleaded guilty to all the charges.
The DSS official argued that the life sentences fail to deliver justice for the two Oriire teachers who were allegedly beheaded by their captors in an attempt to pressure the government into releasing the Ansaru leaders.
“The reason the terrorists beheaded the two Oriire teachers was to put pressure on government to release these two Ansaru commanders,” the official said.
“It, therefore, wouldn’t be fair to see two men beheaded and their families are made to live with the losses without adequately bringing the culprits to book.”
The agency said it will pursue an appeal against the judgment in a bid to secure what it considers a more appropriate sentence.
