By Muhammad Faruk Bayu, Gombe
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has hailed the 15 year jail sentence handed to Ansaru commander, Mahmud Usman, as a major victory in Nigeria’s war against illegal mining.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered the verdict on Thursday, remanding the convict to prison while he faces 31 other terrorism related charges.
Reacting to the ruling, Dr Alake said the judgment has confirmed that bandits are deeply involved in illegal mining to finance their 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 stated.
He also praised the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS) for its role in tracking and arresting the suspects, while promising more inter -agency collaboration to secure mining communities and stop bandits from exploiting mineral resources.
The minister added that the outcome of the case should serve as a lesson for regulators and security agencies to strengthen their capacity against illegal mining.
Ansaru, known as the Vanguard for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa, has been linked to several terrorist activities, including the 2022 attack on the Nigerian Army Wawa Cantonment and the raid on Kuje Prisons.
Dr Alake recalled that in 2024, the government launched the Mining Marshals to improve security in the mining sector and ensure strict regulation.
