The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has described the 15-year jail sentence handed to Ansaru commander, Mahmud Usman, as a landmark victory in the fight against illegal mining and its link to terrorism.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered the verdict on Thursday, remanding the convicted terrorist in prison to also face 31 other charges bordering on terrorism.
Commending the judgment, Alake said the ruling confirmed what the ministry has consistently maintained—that bandits exploit illegal mining to fund criminal operations. “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 declared.
He assured that the ministry will closely monitor the ongoing terrorism cases involving other Ansaru commanders, noting that lessons from the trials will help strengthen regulatory frameworks and enhance the government’s capacity to counter illegal mining.
Alake also lauded the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS) for its crucial role in detecting, monitoring, and arresting the suspects, pledging that inter-agency collaboration will be further intensified. “We shall increase inter-agency collaboration to raise the tempo of surveillance to rid our communities of illegal mining perpetrated by bandits,” he said.
Ansaru, which translates as the Vanguard for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa, is facing multiple charges, including the 2022 attacks on the Nigerian Army Wawa Cantonment and the raid on Kuje Prisons in Abuja.
It will be recalled that in 2024, the Ministry of Solid Minerals established the Mining Marshals as part of efforts to combat illegal mining and safeguard Nigeria’s mineral resources.
Reported by: Stone Reporters News
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