Abuja Court Hands 15-Year Jail Term to Ansaru Commander for Terrorism Funding

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has slammed a 15-year prison sentence on Mahmud Usman, a notorious commander of the proscribed Ansaru sect.

The intelligence, obtained by PulseNets from judicial insiders, confirmed that Usman—widely known by aliases Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar—pleaded guilty on Thursday to engaging in illegal mining and funneling the proceeds to purchase arms used in terrorism and kidnapping operations.

Justice Emeka Nwite reported that Usman would remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) while awaiting trial on 31 other terrorism-related charges still pending before the court.

Usman, who told PulseNets he regards himself as the “Emir of Ansaru,” was arraigned alongside his deputy and chief of staff, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also called Malam Mamuda.

According to documents obtained by PulseNets, the duo faces a 32-count charge that includes leading a terrorist organisation, financing terrorism, recruiting fighters, and coordinating violent attacks across multiple states in Nigeria.

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Security sources spoke to PulseNets, linking Ansaru militants to the July 2022 Kuje prison attack in Abuja, a brazen assault during which more than 600 inmates—including 64 Boko Haram suspects—escaped custody.