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Court jails captured Ansaru leader 15 years for illegal mining
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
News
Two Notorious Terrorist Leaders Haruna Balatoni and Black Neutralised in Plateau Military Offensive Another Fatally Wounded as Six AK-47 Rifles Returned
Two Notorious Terrorist Leaders Haruna Balatoni and Black Neutralised in Plateau Military Offensive Another Fatally Wounded as Six AK-47 Rifles Returned
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have recorded major breakthroughs in ongoing offensive operations against armed criminal networks in Plateau State, neutralising two notorious terrorist leaders, critically wounding another and recovering six AK-47 rifles previously seized from security forces.
The latest developments followed sustained military offensives at Dajin Madam in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State on November 8, 2026.

Security sources disclosed that HUMINT reports received at about 8:53 a.m. on November 9 indicated that the intensity of the military operation had resulted in the neutralisation of two suspected terrorist leaders identified as Haruna Balatoni and Black.
Another notorious figure, identified as Dogo Mai Kunkuru, was reportedly shot in the chest and left in a critical condition, with sources indicating that his chances of survival were slim.
In a significant development on November 10, the sustained military pressure reportedly compelled the terrorist network, through an intermediary identified as Ali-Kwara, to return six AK-47 rifles previously seized from security forces.
The recovered weapons are currently in military custody.
In a related operation, troops of 173 Battalion deployed at Mansur rescued a kidnapped mother and her daughter and recovered 39 cattle.
The developments represent a significant disruption of the criminal network’s leadership, weapons stockpile and capacity to sustain operations in the Wase axis.
The recovery of the six rifles is particularly important as it restores weapons previously lost to the criminal network and provides an opportunity for further intelligence exploitation.
The latest successes underscore the impact of sustained offensive pressure, intelligence-driven operations and military presence in dismantling armed groups operating across Plateau State.
The reported deaths of the terrorist leaders and the condition of Dogo Mai Kunkuru are based on preliminary HUMINT assessments and remain subject to independent military confirmation
Two Notorious Terrorist Leaders Haruna Balatoni and Black Neutralised in Plateau Military Offensive Another Fatally Wounded as Six AK-47 Rifles Returned
News
Troops Dislodge Terrorists from Hideouts in Taraba, Recover Five Motorcycles
Troops Dislodge Terrorists from Hideouts in Taraba, Recover Five Motorcycles
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 114 Battalion (Reinforcement) have dislodged suspected terrorists from their hideouts during a fighting patrol in Karim Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State.
The operation, conducted under Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS), commenced at about 7:30 a.m. on November 8, 2026, with troops advancing towards Komodoro village, where they made contact with suspected terrorists.
Security sources said the criminals fled upon sighting the advancing troops, prompting the patrol team to extend its operation to Mashigin Kirya village within the same local government area.
At Mashigin Kirya, the troops encountered suspected terrorists believed to have been hibernating in the general area and engaged them, forcing the armed elements to retreat.
The troops subsequently recovered five motorcycles suspected to have been used by the criminal group for mobility and logistics.
To further disrupt the fleeing terrorists, the troops conducted a fire mission using an 81mm mortar along their withdrawal route.
The operation was ongoing as troops sustained pressure on suspected criminal hideouts and movement corridors in the area.
The development point to the military’s determination to deny armed groups safe havens and restrict their freedom of movement across Taraba State.
Troops Dislodge Terrorists from Hideouts in Taraba, Recover Five Motorcycles
News
Two Fulani Herdsmen, 16 Cows Killed in Attack on Enugu Community as Joint Troops Launch Investigation
Two Fulani Herdsmen, 16 Cows Killed in Attack on Enugu Community as Joint Troops Launch Investigation
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police and Department of State Services (DSS), have launched an investigation into an attack on Fulani herdsmen in Obelagu Umuamba community, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, which left two herders and 16 cattle dead.
The incident came to light at about 11:00 a.m. on November 10, 2026, when a joint patrol team comprising troops of the 82 Division Garrison and 103 Battalion (Reinforcement), alongside police and DSS operatives, visited the community to assess the cause and extent of damage from the recent attack by suspected hoodlums.
On arrival, the security team discovered that two Fulani herdsmen and 16 cows had been killed, while two other persons sustained injuries.
Following the discovery, the troops convened a joint peace and security meeting involving community leaders, representatives of the Fulani herders, neighbourhood watch groups and other key stakeholders.
During the meeting, security officials cautioned all parties against taking the law into their hands, warning that reprisals could escalate tensions and further threaten peaceful coexistence.
The troops subsequently recovered the corpses and handed them over to the police for further investigation.
Meanwhile, security agencies have commenced efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack, including suspected local collaborators.
The intervention is aimed at preventing retaliatory violence, restoring confidence among residents and ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.
Authorities have urged both farming and herding communities to remain calm, cooperate with security agencies and pursue grievances through lawful channels.
Two Fulani Herdsmen, 16 Cows Killed in Attack on Enugu Community as Joint Troops Launch Investigation
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