The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has expressed satisfaction with the recent verdict sentencing Ansaru commander Mahmud Usman to 15 years in prison.
Dr. Alake said the judgment delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja marks a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against illegal mining in Nigeria.
The verdict, which remanded the accused to prison to face 31 additional charges, outlined the judiciary’s alignment with the Ministry’s objective of eliminating illegal mining activities.
The Minister, in a statement on Monday, by the Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister, Segun Tomori ,emphasized that the ruling reinforces the notion that illegal mining is a tool used by criminal groups to fund their operations.
He commended the judiciary for its role in supporting the Ministry’s mission to eradicate illegal mining.
“It is gratifying that the judiciary is aligned with the ministry’s objective of zero tolerance for illegal mining” he stated.
The minister emphasized that the Ministry will continue to tighten its efforts against illegal mining, with more stringent measures to be announced soon.
He added that the Ministry will closely monitor the proceedings of the remaining 31 cases involving Ansaru commanders.
Alake noted that these cases provide valuable lessons for the mining sector regulators to enhance their capacity to combat illegal mining.
He praised the Directorate of State Security Services (DSS) for its role in monitoring, detecting, and arresting terrorists.
The Minister called for increased inter-agency collaboration to intensify surveillance and eliminate illegal mining activities.
Ansaru, translated as “the Vanguard for the Protection of Muslims in Black Africa,” is a terrorist group responsible for several attacks in Nigeria, including the 2022 assault on the Nigerian Army Wawa Cantonment and the raid on Kuje Prisons in Abuja.
Spark News Naija recall that in 2024, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development established the Mining Marshal to combat illegal mining and enhance security in the sector.