Court sentence Ansaru terrorist group suspect to 15 years for illegal mining

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Justice Emeka Nwite of di federal high court don sama 15 years prison sentence on top one Mahmud Usman wey di Departrment of State Services bin arraign for court on charges of terrorism.

According to di DSS, Usman na commander for Ansaru terrorist organisation, and dia work na to dey engage for illegal mining from wia dem dey get moni to dey buy dia weapons.

Di DSS arraign Usman also known as Abu Bara dis Thursday morning, togeda wit im second in command Abubakar Abba, a.k.a Isah Adam, on 32-count charges.

As di court registrar dey read out di charges, Usman plead guilty to count 10 wey border on illegal mining for di purpose of funding terrorism activities.

E plead not guilty to di oda 31 counts, while Abba plead not guilty to all di 32-count charges wey include kidnapping for ransom, committing acts of terrorism, illegal mining, fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IED) and terrorsim financing.

Afta e enta di guilty plea, counsel to Usman Echeruo Leonard plead di court to tamper Justice wit mercy since im client na a first time offender.

Justice Nwite, however, sentence Usman to 15 years in prison for di illegal mining charge wey e plead guilty to, but e order dat di two suspects go still remain for di detention facility of di DSS pending di hearing of dia bail application.

E den adjourn di matter to 21 October 2025 for continuation of trial for di oda charges.

Na office of di National Security Adviser bin announce di arrest of dis two suspects wey dem refer to as ogbonge international terrorists on 17 August 2025.

Di NSA Nuhu Ribadu say di suspects dey behind big robbery and kidnapping operation wey bin happen for di kontri ova di years and dem dey use di proceeds of dis operations to fund dia terrorism agenda.

Ribadu say Mahmud don train under some foreign jihadist leaders for Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, and e specialise for weapons handling and fabrication of improvised explosive devices.

Di terror suspects also dey accused of maintaining active links wit terrorist groups for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Some of di ogbonge crime wey di NSA allege say di suspects carry out include:

  • Di 2022 Kuje jailbreak.
  • Di attack on di Niger uranium facility.
  • Kidnapping of one French Engineer, Francis Collomp for Katsina.
  • Kidnapping of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba (Magajin Garin Daura) for May 1, 2019.
  • Di abduction of di Emir of Wawa for Borgu Local Goment Area of Niger State, etc