The Department of State Services plans to appeal the life sentences handed down to two senior commanders of the Ansaru terrorist group by a Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that the punishment does not reflect the severity of their alleged crimes.

Justice Emeka Nwite sentenced Mahmud Usman, also known by several aliases including self proclaimed Emir of Ansaru, and Abubakar Abba, also known by other aliases, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to all 32 counts against them.

A senior DSS official said the service considers the sentences too lenient and will challenge the ruling in pursuit of the maximum penalty, noting it found it significant that the two men changed their plea shortly after the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, allegedly by members of the same group. The official said that during the nearly 60 days the abductors held the students, the two commanders shifted from a not guilty plea to guilty, after previously indicating they were undecided, and that the abductors had demanded the unconditional release of the same two commanders in exchange for the Oriire victims.

The official said a life sentence alone would not deliver justice for two Oriire teachers who were beheaded during the kidnapping, arguing that the killings were intended to pressure the government into releasing the Ansaru commanders and that it would be unjust for the families of the beheaded teachers to see the case concluded without a punishment matching the crime.