By Amofokhai Williams
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned seven key commanders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) linked to Simon Ekpa before the Federal High Court in Abuja, filing terrorism charges.
The separate suits: FHC/ABJ/CR/632/2025, FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2025, and FHC/ABJ/CR/634/2025, were all submitted on 19 November 2025.
The suspects are accused of receiving funds and other material support from Ekpa and other foreign-based IPOB operatives, facilitating terrorism operations in South-East Nigeria. Among them, Ibrahim Ali Larabo, an illegal immigrant from Niger operating an unlicensed Bureau de Change, is alleged to have financed IPOB activities, disbursing substantial funds to support insurgent actions.
The arraigned suspects reportedly held key positions as IPOB commanders, arms dealers, ESN fighters, and foot soldiers, directly following directives from Simon Ekpa, who has already been convicted of terror-related offences and sentenced to six years imprisonment in Finland.
In related prosecutions, the DSS recently concluded the conviction of Ismaila, alias Mai Tangaran, for coordinating the 2012 attacks on the Kano State Police Headquarters and other critical installations.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sentenced Ismaila to 15 years for count one and 20 years on counts two, three, and four, to run concurrently. Ismaila is a prominent leader of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).
Other ongoing DSS cases include: The trials of Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Mamuda) and Abubakar Abba (aka Abu Baara), internationally wanted terror suspects, set to resume on 15 January 2026; Khalid Al-Barnawi, accused of masterminding the UN complex bombing on 26 August 2011, along with four co-accused and five individuals facing a nine-count charge for the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
Ten suspects arrested in connection with attacks in Benue and Plateau states, following directives from President Bola Tinubu are being tried.
The recaptured Abdulazeez Obadaki (aka Bomboy), an ISWAP leader, who confessed to orchestrating attacks on St. Francis Catholic, Owo and Deeper Life Church, Okene is also being tried and Musa Abubakar, a key arms manufacturer and supplier, apprehended in Plateau State.
The DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, who assumed office in August 2024, has ordered a comprehensive review and forensic investigation of all inherited terrorism cases to strengthen prosecutions in line with Nigerian law.
