Illegal mining finances terrorism, Alake says as Ansaru leader bags jail term
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has declared the conviction of a senior Ansaru commander as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to dismantle the link between terrorism and illegal mining.
The statement, issued on Sunday and signed by Segun Tomori, Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister, followed last Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment sentencing Mahmud Usman, a top Ansaru operative, to 15 years in prison.
Delivering the ruling in Abuja, Justice Emeka Nwite also ordered Usman’s continued remand as he faces 31 additional charges related to terrorism.
Dr. Alake praised the judiciary for reinforcing the government’s crackdown on illegal mining, which he said has long served as a major funding source for terrorist activities across the country.
“It is gratifying for me that the judiciary is aligned with the ministry’s objective of zero tolerance for illegal mining,” the Minister said. “This verdict has finally established that bandits engage in illegal mining to fund their operations. More drastic measures will be announced shortly as we intensify the clampdown.”
While commending the Department of State Services (DSS) for its role in making the arrests, the minister disclosed that the progress of the remaining charges against other members of the Ansaru group will be closely tracked, describing the legal proceedings as an opportunity for mining regulators to tackle criminal infiltration of the sector.
Ansaru, officially known as Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan—translated as the Vanguard for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa—has been linked to several high-profile terror attacks, including the 2022 raid on the Nigerian Army’s Wawa Cantonment and the Kuje Correctional Facility in Abuja.
In 2024, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development launched a dedicated security outfit, the Mining Marshals, to combat illegal mining and strengthen oversight in the sector.
