The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has said the conviction of a commander of Ansaru terrorist group, Mahmud Usman, is a major victory against illegal mining in Nigeria.

Mr Alake said this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on September 11 convicted and sentenced Usman to 15 years’ imprisonment for illegal mining activities.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order after Usman, a.k.a. Abu Bara’a/Abbas Mukhtar, pleaded guilty to count 10 of the 32-count terrorism charge preferred against him.

Also joined in the suit was his deputy commander, Abubakar Abba, a.k.a. Isah Adam/Mahmud Al-Nigeri.

Usman and Abba, in count 10, were alleged to have committed the illegal mining offence between 2015 and 2025.

They were accused of mining precious minerals such as thunder stones and california stones without lawful authority.

Commending the support of the judiciary in combating illegal mining, Mr Alake described the verdict as an evidence that bandits engaged in illegal mining to fund their operations.

He stated, “It is gratifying 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.:

He said that the ministry would monitor the 31 pending terrorism cases against Ansaru commanders to draw lessons for strengthening the fight against illegal mining.

The minister also commended the State Security  Service for diligently monitoring, detecting and arresting terrorists to face the full wrath of the law.

He stated, “We shall increase inter-agency collaboration to raise the tempo of surveillance to rid our communities of illegal mining perpetrated by bandits.”

Mr Alake and Senator Adams Oshiomhole had earlier said that big, powerful illegal miners were sponsoring banditry.

Mr Alake, in 2024, established the Mining Marshals; a security unit drawn from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, to secure mining sites across the country following a surge of illegal mining activities in the country.

(NAN)