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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has hailed the conviction of Ansaru terrorist commander, Mahmud Usman, describing his 15-year jail term as a significant victory in the fight against illegal mining.
On Thursday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, handed down the sentence and remanded Usman to face 31 additional charges.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, Alake commended the judiciary for backing the ministry’s drive to stamp out illegal mining, noting that the verdict has confirmed the link between banditry and illegal mining operations.
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“It is gratifying that the judiciary is aligned with our zero-tolerance stance against illegal mining. We will continue to tighten the noose around all illegal activities in the sector, with more drastic measures to be announced soon,” the minister said.
Ansaru, translated as the Vanguard for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa, is facing several charges over attacks on the Nigerian Army Wawa Cantonment and the Kuje Prisons raid in 2022, among other terrorist activities.
It will be recalled that in 2024, Alake launched the Mining Marshals to combat illegal mining and enhance security in the solid minerals sector.
