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Court jails captured Ansaru leader 15 years for illegal mining

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Court jails captured Ansaru leader 15 years for illegal mining

By: Zagazola Makama

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a captured leader of the proscribed Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Muhammed Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, to 15 years in prison for illegal mining.

Usman, from Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, was arrested alongside another top Ansaru commander, Abubakar Abba, also known as Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, who hails from Daura, Katsina State.

The duo were arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on 32 counts bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, attacks on military formations, illegal mining, and links with foreign jihadist groups in Mali.

Of the charges, Usman pleaded guilty to count 10 on illegal mining. Presiding Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, consequently convicted him and handed down the 15-year sentence.

Usman, popularly known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, was arrested earlier this year in a covert operation by the Department of State Services (DSS). On Thursday, he was handed a 15-year prison term by a Federal High Court in Abuja after pleading guilty to charges of illegal mining, one of the 32 terrorism-related counts brought against him.

The conviction, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, came after the DSS arraigned Usman alongside his associate, Abubakar Abba, also called Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, a native of Daura in Katsina State. Both men were accused of playing commanding roles in Ansaru, an extremist faction that broke away from Boko Haram in 2012 and has since operated across northern Nigeria and parts of the Sahel.

Court documents presented by the DSS detailed a chilling record of crimes committed by Usman and his accomplices between 2013 and 2025. These included: Kidnappings for ransom where the duo allegedly masterminded multiple high-profile abductions, including that of Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, the Magajin Garin Daura, in 2019; traditional rulers, Fulani leaders, and security officials across Katsina, Niger and Kebbi States; and several civilians, with ransom sums ranging from ₦1.5 million to ₦25 million.

They also reportedly received combat training from Al-Qaeda-linked Jama’atu Nusratil Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM) in Mali, including in the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), arms handling and guerrilla tactics. The suspects were accused of participating in the 2022 assault on Wawa Cantonment of the Nigerian Army in New Bussa, Niger State, which left numerous casualties.

Usman, the first defendant, admitted to running mining operations that funded terrorist activities, a crime that ultimately sealed his conviction in Thursday’s proceedings.

However, despite facing a string of terrorism charges, Usman opted to plead guilty to a lesser count illegal mining under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022. His admission allowed the court to deliver a conviction, while the other counts remain under scrutiny.

Justice Nwite, in his ruling, noted that the plea bargain did not erase the gravity of the allegations but stressed the importance of holding suspects accountable under the law. He sentenced Usman to 15 years’ imprisonment.

His co-defendant, Abubakar Abba, pleaded not guilty to all charges. The case against him continues.

The conviction bring to the fore two critical realities in Nigeria’s counter-terrorism landscape. First, it demonstrates the DSS’s capacity to track, arrest and prosecute top extremist leaders, a feat that had long eluded security forces. Second, it signals that Nigeria’s judiciary is increasingly willing to tackle terrorism cases head-on, despite their complexity.

Ansaru, once considered a weakened faction, has re-emerged in parts of north-western Nigeria in recent years, exploiting banditry networks and illicit mining to finance its operations. The group maintains links with Al-Qaeda affiliates in the Sahel, posing a dual threat to both Nigeria and regional stability.

Nigeria has in recent months accelerated its prosecution of terror suspects, with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the DSS, and the Ministry of Justice working closely to fast-track cases in Kainji in Niger and Borno states.

However, the long list of counts against Usman and Abba, including allegations of kidnappings, ransom payments, and international terror training, pointing to the scale of challenges Nigeria faces.

As one counter-terrorism analyst put it: “The conviction of an Ansaru commander is not the endgame it’s the beginning of a stronger fight against the enablers and financiers of terror in Nigeria.”

Court jails captured Ansaru leader 15 years for illegal mining

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RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State

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RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State


…Making it the 20th State to Benefit from the Support

By: Our Reporter

The Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Outreach Program, launched in Abuja in March 2024 to provide monthly support to vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities, has reached Yobe State—making it the 20th state to benefit from the initiative.
Since its inception, the program has covered Abia, Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, and Sokoto States before arriving in Yobe.
With generous support from the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) and another industrialist who prefers to remain anonymous, assorted food items were delivered, bringing relief to many households, particularly those with disabilities.


The First Lady and Chairman of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, noted that donors provide two truckloads of food items to each beneficiary state for onward distribution. Represented by the Wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, she highlighted Yobe as a major beneficiary of RHI programs and interventions.
These include:

  • The Tony Elumelu Foundation Women Economists Empowerment Program, which supported 500 women with ₦50,000 each.
  • The RHI Women Agricultural Support Scheme, where 20 women received ₦500,000 each.
  • A ₦68.9 million grant from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to the Young Farmers Club.
  • Annual financial support to senior citizens, with 100 beneficiaries receiving ₦100,000 each in 2023 and 250 beneficiaries receiving ₦200,000 each.
  • A ₦50 million financial grant to 1,000 petty traders.
  • The Women in ICT Program, aimed at empowering women in the digital economy.
    According to Senator Tinubu, these interventions are designed to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
    Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni represented by his Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the initiative, noting that the state has aligned with RHI through various empowerment programs for women, children, and vulnerable groups. These include the distribution of household items, skill acquisition schemes, and post-insurgency recovery programs that have economically empowered many women.

  • The State Coordinator of RHI and Wife of the Yobe State Governor, Hajiya Hafsat Kollere Buni, expressed gratitude to the First Lady for extending such impactful support to Yobe State. She also looked forward to stronger collaborations to further project the ideals of RHI and improve the lives of the people.
    Also present at the event was Dr. Ubong Udoh, Managing Director of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, one of the key donors to the program.
  • RHI Presents Food Items to Vulnerable Groups in Yobe State
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Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

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Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

By: Zagazola Makama

Former National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), has warned that Nigeria’s fight against insurgency will remain elusive without national cohesion and a united front across society.

Monguno stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the launch of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He said Boko Haram and other violent groups had thrived by exploiting Nigeria’s divisions, stressing that disunity among citizens, political actors, and institutions weakened the country’s capacity to defeat terrorism.

“Without national cohesion, insurgency will not end. Terrorists feed on our fault lines – ethnic, religious, political – and they weaponise them against us. If we remain divided, no amount of military might will deliver lasting peace,” Monguno said.

He urged Nigerians to rise above parochial sentiments and embrace a spirit of patriotism, solidarity, and common purpose. According to him, the fight against insurgency must go beyond the battlefield to include reconciliation, justice, and inclusive governance.

The retired General emphasised that the scars left by Boko Haram were not just physical but also psychological and social, making unity a vital condition for national healing.

“The book reminds us that security is not just the work of soldiers. It is the responsibility of leaders, institutions, and citizens. Unless we build cohesion, insurgency will continue to mutate in different forms,” he added.

Monguno commended Gen. Irabor for documenting his experience, describing the work as a guide that combines history, strategy, and national lessons for the future.

The event was attended by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Defence, service chiefs, traditional rulers, diplomats, and senior government officials.

Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

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Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach

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Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach

By: Zagazola Makama

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said Nigeria cannot defeat insurgency through military operations alone, stressing the need to embrace soft power and address root causes of insecurity.

Kukah made this known in Abuja on Thursday while reviewing Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).

He said the country’s reliance on military doctrines and repeated counter-insurgency operations had failed to produce lasting peace because Boko Haram represented an ideology, not just an armed threat.

“For years, we have had Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Restore Order, Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Safe Haven, and many others. Yet, when one operation fails, another is launched. These operations have not ended the insurgency because you cannot fight an idea with weapons alone,” Kukah said.

The cleric argued that describing the insurgency only in military terms forecloses other sources of information and non-kinetic solutions that are critical to peacebuilding.

According to him, Boko Haram’s struggle is framed as a jihad, and many of its fighters see death as martyrdom, making them indifferent to conventional deterrence.

“The challenge before us is not merely about defeating insurgents on the battlefield, but about understanding the soft issues of life and death. Guns cannot build peace; soft power must complement military power,” he said.

Kukah pointed to chapters 11, 12 and 13 of Irabor’s book, which emphasise reconciliation, good governance, justice, and national healing as critical conditions for security.

He praised the author’s reflections for going beyond military strategy, describing them as “the writings of a priest” that call for dialogue, reforms and moral renewal.

The bishop added that Nigeria must prioritise structural reforms, political inclusion, patriotism, and judicial integrity to tackle grievances that feed extremism.

“The urgency now is to invest in soft power – in human development, reconciliation, and building trust in institutions. Military operations can only create space; it is ideas and justice that will sustain peace,” Kukah said.

The event attracted former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, senior government officials, service chiefs, diplomats, and other dignitaries.
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