DSS To Appeal Life Sentences For Ansaru Terrorist Group Commanders, Seeks Maximum Punishment Over Murdered Oriire Teachers In Oyo

The Department of State Services (DSS) says it will appeal the life sentences handed to two senior commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group, insisting the punishment does not reflect the gravity of their crimes, particularly the killing of two teachers abducted in Oriire, Oyo State.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, sentenced Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, described as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and Abubakar Abba, also known as Mahmud al-Nigeri or Malam Mamuda, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to all 32 charges against them.

A senior DSS official, however, said the agency considers the sentence too lenient and will seek the maximum penalty on appeal.

The official disclosed that the two commanders initially intended to plead guilty but changed their position after Ansaru-linked gunmen abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire.

“For the nearly 60 days the kidnappers held on to the pupils and teachers of Oriire, the Ansaru commanders in our custody changed. One of the top conditions the abductors gave was the unconditional release of these same Ansaru commanders in exchange for the Oriire kidnap victims,” the official said.

He added that the defendants delayed entering their pleas until after the rescue operation.
“From ‘not guilty plea,’ the two men at the penultimate court session, said they were undecided on what plea to take. Justice Nwite even had to hand them an ultimatum to make up their minds on or before Monday’s sitting. After the Oriire rescue, they came to court to plead guilty to all the charges.”

The DSS official argued that life imprisonment would not deliver justice for the two teachers who were beheaded while in captivity.

“The reason the terrorists beheaded the two Oriire teachers was to put pressure on government to release these two Ansaru commanders. 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 culpits to book.

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