Conviction of Ansaru Commander a Big Win Against Illegal Mining — Alake

Conviction of Ansaru Commander a Big Win Against Illegal Mining — Alake

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has described the conviction of Mahmud Usman, a commander of the Ansaru terrorist group, as a major victory in Nigeria’s fight against illegal mining.

On Thursday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Usman to 15 years in prison, while he still faces 31 other terrorism-related charges.

Commending the ruling, Alake said the judgment reinforced evidence that terrorist groups often fund their activities through illegal mining operations.

In a statement released in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, Alake said:

“It is gratifying for me that the judiciary is aligned with the ministry’s objective of zero tolerance for illegal mining. Further tightening of the noose around illegalities in mining continues as more drastic measures will be announced shortly.”

The minister noted that his ministry will closely monitor the remaining cases against the Ansaru commanders while urging regulators to draw lessons from them to strengthen their capacity in curbing illegal mining.

Alake also commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for its role in monitoring, arresting and ensuring terrorists are brought to justice.

Read also: Abuja Court Jails Ansaru Sect Leader Mahmud Usman for 15 Years Over Terrorism

“We shall increase inter-agency collaboration to raise the tempo of surveillance to rid our communities of illegal mining perpetrated by bandits,” he added.

Ansaru, also known as “Helpers for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa,” has been linked to several terrorist activities, including the attack on the Nigerian Army’s Wawa Cantonment and the 2022 raid on Kuje Prisons in Abuja.

Since establishing the Mining Marshals in 2024, Alake has intensified efforts to sanitize the mining sector, with Usman’s conviction marking a significant milestone in that drive.