Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has hailed the 15-year jail term handed to Ansaru commander, Mahmud Usman, describing it as a landmark victory in Nigeria’s fight against illegal mining.
On Thursday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, convicted Usman and sentenced him to prison while also ordering that he face trial on 31 other terrorism-related charges.
Alake commended the judiciary for aligning with his ministry’s zero-tolerance stance against illegal mining, noting that the verdict confirms the long-suspected link between banditry and unlawful mining activities.
“It is gratifying that the judiciary is aligned with the ministry’s objectives. We will continue tightening the noose around illegalities in mining, with more drastic measures to be announced soon,” he said.
The minister added that the ministry would closely monitor the pending terrorism trials against Usman, stressing that regulators have much to learn from such cases to strengthen their fight against illegal mining.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant (Media), Segun Tomori, Alake also commended the Directorate of State Services (DSS) for its vigilance in tracking and arresting terrorists funding their operations through mining.
Ansaru, translated as the Vanguard for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa, is facing several charges for terrorist attacks, including the raid on the Nigerian Army Wawa Cantonment and the 2022 Kuje Prison break.
Alake recalled that in 2024, his ministry launched the Mining Marshals to combat illegal mining and secure the solid minerals sector.