Court Jails Ansaru Commander 15 Years for Illegal Mining, Trial on Terrorism Charges Continues

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

Justice Emeka Nwite handed down the sentence on Thursday after Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, pleaded guilty to count 10 of a 32-count terrorism charge filed against him and his deputy commander, Abubakar Abba, a.k.a. Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri.

Justice Nwite further ordered that Usman remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending his trial on the remaining 31 counts to which he pleaded not guilty.

The order followed an application by the Federal Government’s counsel, M.B. Abubakar, who serves as the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, citing national security concerns.

According to court filings, Usman and Abba were accused of engaging in illegal mining of precious minerals, including thunder and california stones, without lawful authority between 2015 and 2025. The offence is contrary to Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, LFN 2004, and punishable under the same law.

While Usman admitted guilt to the illegal mining charge, Abba, described as the group’s deputy commander, pleaded not guilty to all the counts. Justice Nwite adjourned the case until September 21 for trial.

Usman and Abba, also called Mallam Mamuda, were arraigned on September 4 on a 32-count charge bordering on terrorism and related offences, filed by Mr. Abubakar on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

The charges allege that Usman, from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, and Abba, from Daura Local Government Area of Katsina State, aided and abetted terrorism between 2013 and 2015. They were also accused of serving as top commanders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation.

In separate counts, the defendants were alleged to have received weapons and explosives training from terrorist camps, conspired to carry out attacks, and contributed to the 2022 assault on Wawa Cantonment in New-Bussa, Niger State, which resulted in mass casualties.

The trial on the terrorism-related charges continues later this month.