A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday convicted and sentenced Mahmud Usman, a commander of the proscribed terrorist group Ansaru, to 15 years in prison.
Usman was arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) and pleaded guilty to charges related to illegal mining. According to the prosecution, the proceeds from these activities were used to finance the acquisition of arms for terrorism and kidnapping.
Presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, ordered that Usman remain in DSS custody pending his trial on 31 additional charges brought against him.
In a 32-count charge filed before the court, Usman and another suspect, Abubakar Abba, were accused of carrying out terrorist acts in 2022, including an attack on the Nigerian Army’s Wawa Cantonment in Kainji, New Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The duo is also alleged to have received training in weapons handling, the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and war tactics from terrorist camps, including facilities in Mali.
Following the sentencing, Justice Nwite scheduled October 21 for the commencement of trial on the remaining charges.
The DSS further accuses the suspects of orchestrating the July 2022 attack on Kuje Correctional Facility, which resulted in the escape of over 600 inmates. They are also alleged to have planned an attack on a uranium facility in Niger, and to have been involved in multiple kidnappings, including that of French engineer Francis Collomp in 2013.
Additionally, the accused are linked to the 2019 abduction of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, the Magajin Garin Daura, as well as several armed robbery incidents.
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