A High Court in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja on Thursday convicted and sentenced Mahmud Usman, a commander of the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru, to 15 years in prison for illegal mining activities that allegedly funded terrorism and kidnappings. Usman, arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS), pleaded guilty to the charge.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that Usman remain in DSS custody pending trial on 31 other terrorism-related charges.
He and another defendant, Abubakar Abba, are accused of attacking Wawa Military Cantonment in Niger State in 2022, training in explosives and war tactics in Mali, and masterminding several high-profile crimes, including the 2022 Kuje prison break that freed more than 600 inmates.
The court set October 21 for continuation of trial.
