The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, a top commander of the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru, to 15 years imprisonment for illegal mining activities linked to financing terrorism.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Emeka Nwite convicted Usman after he pleaded guilty to count 10 of a 32-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). The charge bordered on unlawful mining of precious minerals, including thunder stones and California stones, without government authorization, between 2015 and 2025.
According to the prosecution, Usman, alongside his deputy commander Abubakar Abba, a.k.a. Isah Adam/Mahmud Al-Nigeri, allegedly engaged in illegal mining to raise funds for terrorist operations in Nigeria and the Sahel region. The Federal Government maintained that the act violated Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, LFN 2004.
While Usman admitted guilt, Abba—popularly known as Mallam Mamuda—denied all charges when they were read in court.
Justice Nwite ruled that Usman would remain in DSS custody pending the trial of the remaining 31 terrorism-related counts, in which he pleaded not guilty. The court agreed with the prosecution, led by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, that releasing Usman could pose a serious national security threat.
The case, FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, was filed on September 4 by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Charges Include Terrorism, Weapons Training, and Military Attack
Prosecutors allege that between 2013 and 2015, Usman and Abba operated as senior commanders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), a terrorist group with strong links to Al-Qaeda.
The DSS accused the duo of:
Training in weapons handling and bomb-making in terrorist camps.
Receiving combat and war tactics training with Jama’atu Nusratil Islami Wal Muslimin (JNIM) in Mali.
Coordinating the 2022 attack on Wawa Cantonment, New Bussa, Niger State, which resulted in multiple casualties.
The judge adjourned the matter to September 21 for the continuation of trial on the other charges.
The conviction marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, as Ansaru has been one of the country’s deadliest extremist groups, notorious for cross-border terrorism, kidnapping, and attacks on military formations.
Security analysts say the sentencing will disrupt Ansaru’s operational network and send a strong warning to other terrorist financiers operating under the guise of legitimate businesses.