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DSS Files Terrorism Charges Against Ansaru Leaders Linked to Kuje Prison Break

DSS Files Terrorism Charges Against Ansaru Leaders Linked to Kuje Prison Break

The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed terrorism charges against two senior commanders of Ansaru, a terror group reportedly linked to Al-Qaeda, over their alleged role in violent attacks across Nigeria.

The suspects are Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a Abbas/Mukhtar, who is described as the Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud Al-Nigeri, also known as Malam Mamuda.  They were recently captured during security operations.

According to the DSS, the charges against them include leading a terrorist organisation, funding its activities, recruiting members, and planning violent operations nationwide.
The two men were alleged to be behind the July 2022 deadly attack on the Kuje Prison, where more than 600 inmates, including Boko Haram suspects, escaped.

Their arraignment is expected soon at the Federal High Court in Abuja. This comes three weeks after the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced their arrest.
Ribadu had said, “The first is Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar), the self-styled Emir of ANSARU. He is the coordinator of various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He is also the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism over the years.

“The second is Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), Abu Bara’s proclaimed Chief of Staff and Deputy. He is the leader of the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell hiding out in and around the Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara States up to the Benin Republic.

“Mamuda trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specialising in weapons handling and IED fabrication.”
The NSA said the two men had been on Nigeria’s most-wanted list for years, having jointly spearheaded multiple attacks on civilians, security forces, and critical infrastructure.

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The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed terrorism charges against two senior commanders of Ansaru, a terror group reportedly linked to Al-Qaeda, over their alleged role in violent attacks
The post DSS Files Terrorism Charges Against Ansaru Leaders Linked to Kuje Prison Break appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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Rewane: Nigeria’s GDP Will Hit $357bn if Power Supply Moves from 4,500MW to 8,000MW

Rewane: Nigeria’s GDP Will Hit $357bn if Power Supply Moves from 4,500MW to 8,000MW

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has pointed out that Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) could rise to $357 billion if electricity supply would increase from the present 4.500MW to 8,000MW.  

Rewane also noted that Nigeria has spent not less than $30 billion in the power sector in 26 years only to increase the country’s power generation by mere 500MW, from 4,500 MW in 1999 to 5,000MW in 2025 even though the sector has installed capacity to generate 13,000 MW.

He pointed these out in his presentation on September 3, 2025, at the Lagos Business School (LBS) Executive Breakfast Session titled ‘Nigeria Bailout or Lights Out: The Power Sector in a Free Fall’, where he stated categorically that the way out for the power sector that has N4.3 trillion indebtedness to banks would be either a bailout or lights out for Nigeria with its attendant consequences.
He said “According to the World Bank, a 1.0 per cent increase in electricity consumption is associated with a 0.5 to 0.6 per cent rise in GDP.

“If power supply rises to 8000MW, from current 4500MW, the bailout shifts money from government into investment, raising consumption and productivity. And due to multiplier effects, GDP could rise to $357 billion.”  
The FDC’s chief executive remarked that “in the last 30 years, Nigeria has invested no less than $30 billon to solve an intractable power supply problem.
“The initiatives, which started in 1999 when the power generated from the grid was as low as 4,500MW, have proved to be a failure at best.

“Twenty-six years later, and after five presidential administrations, the country is still generating 5,000MW. Nigeria is ranked as being in the lowest percentile of electricity per capita in the world.
“The way out is a bailout, or it is lights out for Nigeria,” he said.

He traced the origin of the huge debts of the power sector to its privatisation under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, when many of the investors thought they had hit a jackpot, only to find out to their consternation that they had bought a poisoned chalice.

Rewane defined a bailout as “injection of money into a business or institution that would otherwise face an imminent collapse,” noting that the bailout may be injected as loans, subsidies, guarantees or equity for the purpose of stabilising markets, protect jobs and restore confidence.

He said, “The president has promised to consider a financial bailout for the Gencos and Discos

“With a total indebtedness of N4.3 trillion to the banking system, the debt has shackled growth in the sector.”

Rewane warned that without implementing the bailouts for the power sector, the GENCOs and DISCOs would shut down at the risk of nationwide blackout.

 According to him, “the average output from the grid in the last 20 years has been stuck at 5,000MW making Nigeria rank in the lowest percentile of electricity per capita in the world.”

The economist said that the cost of the power sector’s bailouts include strains on government finances, crowding out of spending on health and education as well as its attendant moral hazard risk.

He added that the cost of bailouts in the sector has ranged from N213 billion, N701 billion, N600 billion in 2015, 2017 and 2020 respectively, to about N4 trillion in 2025.

Rewane, however, pointed out that implementing a bailout for the power sector could have a positive effect on the country’s economy if Nigeria’s actual power generation could rise from today’s 4,500 MW to around 8,000 and 10,000 MW.

The immediate gains, according to him, would include improved power generation and distribution capacity, more reliable electricity supply to homes and businesses as well as cost reflective tariffs.

Rewane also said that “firms can sell off non-core power assets (like diesel generator sets) to unlock capital; revenues redirected into core operations and expansion” and could operate on “more predictable costs and financial planning.”

He also said that the benefits of power sector bailout for the telecom firms in particular would include “lower tower downtime, cheaper running costs, stronger network outreach and multiplier effect of better network coverage across the economy” that will aid GDP’s growth.”

For now, the Nigeria’s power sector has been beset with “aging infrastructure, frequent blackouts, huge debts across the value chain, low tariffs and subsidy dependence, metering gaps and electricity theft,” Rewane said.

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Dike Onwuamaeze The Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has pointed out that Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) could rise to $357 billion if electricity
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NDLEA Nabs 26 Suspected Traffickers With 41,410.53kg of Illicit Drugs

NDLEA Nabs 26 Suspected Traffickers With 41,410.53kg of Illicit Drugs

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin Cit

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Edo State Command has arrested 26 suspected drug traffickers, with a total of 41,410.53 kilogrammes of various narcotic drugs taken out of illicit circulation.
NDLEA Edo State Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who disclosed this in Benin City yesterday while presenting the August 2025 progress report, noted that the command intensified operations, leading to numerous arrests, significant drug seizures, destruction of cannabis farms and crucial anti-drug abuse initiatives.

According to him, “The achievements were remarkable and underscored our proactive approach towards curbing drug-related crimes in Edo State. The 26 persons apprehended comprise 22 males and four females. Total drugs seized is 41,410.53 kilogrammes, and the breakdown revealed that cannabis accounted for over 99 per cent of the seized drugs with 41,387.36 kilogrammes.”

He listed other seizures as Tramadol 22.253kg, Swinol 0.3085kg, Danabol 0.0117kg, Diazepam 0.5163kg, Methamphetamine 0.0811kg, as well as 400 ml of Pentazocine and10 litres of Codeine cough syrup.
In a concerted effort against cannabis cultivation, the NDLEA said it destroyed four illegal cannabis plantations in the Ebule Forest, Owan West LGA, covering a total area of 15.852732 hectares, adding that the destroyed farms had an estimated yield of approximately 39,631.83kg of cannabis.

“Prominent among the arrests and seizures is the evacuation of 69 bags of skunk, a strong strain of cannabis from a three-bedroom bungalow at Uzebba in the Owan West local government area of the state. A 54-year-old woman, Fodo Stella Sunday, who hails from the area was arrested in connection with the seizure,” Ofoyeju stressed.

Similarly, the command said it raided a notorious drug location at RCC Junction, Sapele Road, Benin City, where three suspected drug traffickers were arrested with 2.05 kg of cannabis, 46 grammes of methamphetamine, 5 grammes of Danabol, 52 grammes of Swinol, 745 grammes of tramadol and 0.4 litres of Codeine, giving the names of suspects arrested as Itua Oselumen, 41 years from Esan West LGA of Edo State; Rabiu Yusuf, 38 years from Nasarawa LGA, Kano State; and Fahad Ahmed, 24 years who hails from Malumfashi LGA of Katsina State.

Ofoyeju further disclosed that as a result of the court vacation, no conviction was recorded in August; noting however that six charges were filed at the Federal High Court, Benin City just as he said that the agency’s commitment to legal proceedings highlight its dedication to ensuring justice for drug-related offences.

Besides, he said in line with NDLEA enforcement activities, the agency has engaged in significant drug demand reduction efforts as 13 clients received counselling services, while 11 are currently undergoing rehabilitation with sensitisation programmes held across various community locations, reaching hundreds of individuals. 

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Adibe Emenyonu in Benin Cit The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Edo State Command has arrested 26 suspected drug traffickers, with a total of 41,410.53 kilogrammes of various narcotic
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