Court sentences Ansaru commander to 15 years for illegal mining

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Mahmud Usman, a commander of the banned terrorist group Ansaru, to 15 years in prison for engaging in illegal mining.

Justice Emeka Nwite delivered the judgment on Thursday after Usman pleaded guilty to the charge. Prosecutors told the court that proceeds from the mining activities were used to acquire weapons for terrorism and kidnapping.

The judge also ordered that Usman remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending his trial on 31 other charges filed by the Federal Government. The case was adjourned until October 21.

Usman and another suspect, Abubakar Abba, are jointly facing a 32-count charge brought by the DSS. They are accused of carrying out terrorist attacks in 2022, including an assault on the Nigerian Army’s Wawa Cantonment in Kainji, Niger State, which left many casualties, as well as the July 2022 attack on Kuje Prison that led to the escape of over 600 inmates.

The charges also allege that the duo received training in weapons handling, explosives, and war tactics at terrorist camps, including from a Mali-based group.

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Other accusations against them include a foiled plan to attack a uranium facility in Niger, several kidnappings — such as the 2013 abduction of French engineer Francis Collomp and the 2019 kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura — along with armed robberies and related crimes.