A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Mahmud Usman, a top commander of the outlawed Ansaru sect, to 15 years in prison.

Usman, who is also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas, or Mukhtar, was convicted on Thursday after pleading guilty to charges of illegal mining and using the proceeds to fund terrorism, including the purchase of arms for kidnapping and insurgency operations.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who delivered the judgment, further ordered that Usman remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending the conclusion of his trial on 31 other terrorism-related charges.

The court heard that Usman, who described himself as the “Emir of Ansaru,” was arraigned alongside his deputy and chief of staff, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Malam Mamuda.

Both men are facing a 32-count charge bordering on leading a terrorist organisation, financing terrorism, recruiting fighters, and coordinating violent attacks across the country.

Ansaru militants have been linked to several high-profile terror activities, including the July 2022 attack on Kuje Prison in Abuja, where more than 600 inmates — among them 64 Boko Haram suspects — escaped.

The judgment marks one of the most significant convictions against senior members of the Ansaru sect, as the federal government continues its crackdown on terror groups operating in Nigeria.