The Department of State Services (DSS) has explained that the delay in prosecuting terrorism suspects linked to the August 26, 2011 UN building bombing is due to legal and procedural challenges.

Favour Dozie, DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, stated in Abuja that the five suspects apprehended in 2016 are currently on trial. Delays, he said, stemmed from issues such as suspects appearing in court without legal representation.

The DSS recently requested an accelerated hearing, which Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, granted. On October 23–24, a trial-within-trial was conducted, during which the suspects’ confessional videos were played in court. The trial of two internationally wanted suspects, believed to be leaders of ANSARU, is set to resume on November 19.

According to Dozie, one suspect, a self-styled Emir of ANSARU, coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and financed attacks through kidnappings and robberies. His deputy led the “Mahmudawa” cell, operating around Kainji National Park, straddling Niger, Kwara, and the Republic of Benin. Both received terrorism training in Libya between 2013–2015 under instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria.

The DSS confirmed that the suspects face a 32-count terrorism charge, including illegal mining. Separately, on August 11, the DSS arraigned five suspects over the June 5, 2022 St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo attack, which killed over 40 people and injured more than 100. These suspects face a nine-count terrorism charge, including membership of Al Shaba