The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed terrorism charges against seven alleged commanders of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), all said to be linked to Finland-based separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa.

The charges were filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The cases, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/632/2025, FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2025, and FHC/ABJ/CR/634/2025, were instituted on 19 November 2025. According to court documents, the defendants are accused of receiving funds and other material support from Ekpa and other foreign-based IPOB members to carry out attacks in Nigeria’s South-East.

One of the key defendants, Ibrahim Ali Larabo, alleged to be involved in terrorism financing, is said to be an illegal immigrant from the Republic of Niger who operated an unlicensed Bureau De Change (BDC). The DSS alleges that Larabo provided financial services to the Ekpa-led faction of IPOB, facilitating the movement of large sums of money used for terrorist activities.

Investigations reportedly established that the suspects served as IPOB commanders, arms dealers, couriers, Eastern Security Network (ESN) fighters and foot soldiers. They were allegedly funded and directed by Ekpa, who was recently convicted of terror-related offences in Finland and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

The DSS disclosed these developments in a statement issued by Favour Dozie, Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications. The statement also highlighted progress on several terrorism cases prosecuted by the service.

According to the DSS, it recently secured the conviction of Ismaila (a.k.a. Mai Tangaran), who coordinated the 2012 attacks on the Police Headquarters in Bompai, Kano, and other critical facilities. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered judgment on 18 November after a trial that began in 2017.

Ismaila, identified as a leader of the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP), was convicted on a four-count terrorism charge under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act (2013). He received a sentence of 15 years on the first count and 20 years each on the remaining three counts, to run concurrently.

The DSS also confirmed ongoing prosecution of two internationally wanted terror suspects—Mahmud Muhammad Usman (a.k.a. Mamuda) and Abubakar Abba (a.k.a. Abu Baara). Their trial, presided over by Justice Nwite, is scheduled to resume on 15 January 2026.

Similarly, the prosecution of Khalid Al-Barnawi, alleged mastermind of the August 26, 2011 bombing of the UN Building in Abuja, is continuing. Al-Barnawi and four others are standing trial for their roles in the deadly attack.

Five additional suspects are facing a nine-count terrorism charge over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025.

The DSS further revealed that 10 suspects arrested in connection with recent attacks in Benue and Plateau States are currently being prosecuted, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators of the violence.

Two other terror suspects are slated for arraignment: Abdulazeez Obadaki (a.k.a. Bomboy), a recaptured ISWAP leader accused of orchestrating attacks on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, and Deeper Life Church, Okene, Musa Abubakar, said to be a major manufacturer and supplier of arms and ammunition arrested in Plateau State.

The DSS added that its Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, upon assuming office in August 2024, ordered a comprehensive review of all inherited cases and directed forensic investigations to strengthen ongoing and future prosecutions.