A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Mahmud Usman, a top commander of the proscribed Ansaru terrorist group, to 15 years in prison.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had arraigned Usman, who pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in illegal mining activities that funded the purchase of arms for terrorism and kidnapping operations.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who delivered the judgment, also ordered that Usman remain in DSS custody as he faces trial on 31 other terrorism-related charges.
Among them are allegations of participating in the 2022 attack on Wawa Cantonment in Kainji, Niger State, which left several casualties.
Court documents show that Usman and his associate, Abubakar Abba, were trained in weapons handling, improvised explosive device (IED) fabrication, and guerrilla tactics in terrorist camps in Mali and Libya.
The DSS linked Usman and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri (also known as Mallam Mamuda), to the July 2022 Kuje prison break that freed more than 600 inmates, including Boko Haram fighters.
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They are also accused of planning an attack on Niger’s uranium facility, as well as involvement in high-profile kidnappings such as that of French engineer Francis Collomp in 2013 and Alhaji Musa Umar Uba, Magajin Garin Daura, in 2019.
Ansaru, which broke away from Boko Haram in 2012, has long been linked to Al-Qaeda and is blamed for multiple kidnappings, armed robberies, and attacks on security formations across Nigeria.
Justice Nwite adjourned proceedings till October 21 for continuation of the trial on the remaining charges.