What Was He Convicted For?
Usman admitted to using illegal mining operations to fund the purchase of arms and support terror activities. According to the charges, the money generated from these illegal mining ventures helped finance violent attacks across Nigeria and parts of West Africa.
But that’s not all—this is just the beginning of Usman's legal battles. He still faces 31 more serious charges related to terrorism and arms trafficking. For now, he remains in the custody of Nigeria’s secret police as the rest of the trial continues.
Who Is Mahmud Muhammad Usman?
Usman is a senior figure in Ansaru, a terror group with known ties to al-Qaida. His group has been linked to several high-profile attacks over the years, including:
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The 2022 prison break in Abuja, where nearly 900 inmates escaped.
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The 2013 attack on a uranium facility in Niger, Nigeria’s neighboring country.
He was captured in August 2025, alongside another militant leader, Mahmud al-Nigeri, during a joint security operation.
Why This Matters
This conviction is part of a larger push by the Nigerian government to tackle rising violence from extremist groups and armed gangs across the country. The Usman case is just one of many recent terrorism-related trials aiming to crack down on those fueling insecurity in the region.
Interestingly, around the same time in September 2025, another high-profile case made headlines—Simon Ekpa, a separatist figure, was convicted in Finland. However, his case has no legal bearing on the ongoing treason trial of Nnamdi Kanu in Nigeria.
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