The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has backed the Department of State Services (DSS) over its decision to appeal the life sentences imposed on two convicted Ansaru terrorist commanders, describing the punishment as too lenient considering the gravity of their crimes.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group said the sentences handed to Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas and Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, alias Mahmud al-Nigeri (Malam Mamuda), failed to reflect the scale of the atrocities allegedly committed by the terrorist network they led.

The two men were sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to a 32-count terrorism charge.

HURIWA argued that the case was not merely about the fate of two convicted terrorists, but about justice for thousands of Nigerians who have lost loved ones, communities devastated by insurgency and security personnel killed while defending the country.

The group said its position was reinforced by claims from the DSS that kidnappers who abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Council of Oyo State demanded the release of the two Ansaru commanders as a condition for freeing their captives.

According to the DSS, two teachers were allegedly killed during the ordeal in an attempt to pressure the government.

HURIWA also cited comments by former DSS Assistant Director Dennis Amachree, who described the convicts as senior figures in the Ansaru terrorist group allegedly linked to some of the country’s deadliest attacks.

Amachree claimed the group recorded the killing of a teacher and circulated the video to instil fear, and was also responsible for attacks that claimed the lives of senior military officers, including generals.

The organisation said that if those allegations formed part of the facts supporting the convictions, they pointed to crimes of “exceptional cruelty” committed against both civilians and security personnel.

HURIWA maintained that the DSS was justified in challenging the judgment and urged the Court of Appeal to determine whether the sentence adequately reflected the seriousness of the offences and met the objectives of justice, deterrence, accountability and public safety.

According to the group, Nigeria’s justice system must send a clear message that terrorism attracts the full weight of the law, particularly at a time when the country continues to battle insurgency and violent extremism.

HURIWA stressed that its position was driven not by vengeance but by a commitment to justice, due process and the proper application of Nigeria’s anti-terrorism laws.

It warned that punishments perceived as disproportionately lenient could undermine public confidence in the justice system and deepen the pain of victims’ families.

The group therefore called on the Court of Appeal to give accelerated hearing to the DSS appeal, insisting that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to reflect the devastating impact of terrorism on innocent Nigerians and the nation’s security.