A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday sentenced Mahmud Muhammed Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, one of the recently captured Ansaru commanders, to 15 years in prison for illegal mining.
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Abu Bara’a, a native of Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, was arraigned alongside another alleged Ansaru commander, Abubakar Abba (also known as Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri from Daura, Katsina State), on a 32-count charge of terrorism and related offences filed by the Department of State Services (DSS).
During the arraignment, Bara’a pleaded guilty to Count 10 of the charges, which specifically related to illegal mining. Justice Emeka Nwite convicted him and handed down the 15-year sentence.
However, he denied the other 31 terrorism-related counts, while his co-defendant, Abba, pleaded not guilty to all 32 charges.
According to the prosecution led by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, the alleged crimes were committed between 2015 and 2024. The DSS accused the duo of involvement in terrorism financing, unlawful possession of arms, kidnapping, bombings, and receiving training from foreign terror networks in Mali and Sudan.
They were specifically alleged to have masterminded the bombing of Wawa Military Cantonment in Niger State, abducted security officers — one of whom was killed in captivity — and collected millions of naira in ransom. The DSS further claimed that proceeds from unlawful mining and ransom payments were channelled into procuring weapons and explosives.
Justice Nwite ordered both defendants to be remanded at the DSS facility in Abuja, with trial proceedings scheduled to begin in October.
In a related development, the DSS arraigned an alleged gunrunner, Hucaifa Haruna, on a five-count charge before the same court. Haruna pleaded not guilty and was also ordered to remain in DSS custody pending the commencement of his trial on October 17.
The terror suspects were apprehended in a recent joint security operation in a forest location.
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