The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed terrorism charges against two top commanders of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group. The suspects are Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas, or Mukhtar, who is described as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru; and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also called Malam Mamuda. They were arrested recently during operations by Nigerian security forces. According to the DSS, the charges against them include leading a terror organisation,...

Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from Simon Ekpa, insisting he has never been a member of the movement. In a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, the group said, “The record is clear, IPOB under oath in a Finnish court testified that Simon Ekpa has never held any position in IPOB or ESN. Ekpa himself, under oath, described himself merely as a ‘content creator,’ admitted he disowned IPOB,...

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has described the ruling against Ekpa as a landmark victory in the global fight against terrorism. Reacting in a statement signed by Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, warned individuals and organisations sponsoring terrorism from abroad to desist or face consequences. The statement read, “The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has expressed firm support for the judgment delivered today by...

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has hailed the conviction of Simon Ekpa by the Finnish court. In an official statement, Fagbemi described the judgment as “a welcome development and a significant step in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria.” He said, “We received the good news of the conviction of the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, by the Finnish court. His...