By Gabriel Achadu

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced two women arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) for their involvement with terrorism to forty years in prison.
The convicted women, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, are mother and sister respectively of the terrorist kingpin, Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, who was eliminated by Nigerian security forces, on June 10, 2026, in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State,

Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa handed the sentences after both women pleaded guilty to Counts 2, 4 and 5 of the five-count terrorism-related charge brought against them by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

Both women escaped conviction on Counts 1 and 3, which bordered on they receiving N490,300 from Battujo, fully aware it was proceeds of terrorism, as well as Count 3, which was on their sponsored holy pilgrimage with the proceeds of terrorism. The Director of Public Prosecution, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, urged the court to strike out both counts, but convict them on the others.
According to Count 2, both women
“aided and abetted the activities of Battujo, a known bandit Kingpin and passed information through telephone
conversations to the said Battujo, and thereby committed an
offence contrary to and punishable under section 26 of the
terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
In addition to pleading guilty to Count 2, Battujo’s mum pleaded guilty to Count 5 which bordered on concealment of information on the terrorism activities of her son.
On her part, Halima, who is sister of the eliminated terrorist kingpin, in addition to pleading guilty to Count 2, also pleaded guilty to Count 4 which also bordered on concealment of information that her brother illegally acquired firearms which she saw when she visited his forest camp.
While the punishment for each of the Counts is 20 years, Justice Yilwa ordered that the sentences run concurrently, after which the convicts will undergo rehabilitation.

The Counts are:

1.
That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult,
of Dungun Muaza Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at
Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit
an offence, when you received the sum of four hundred and ninety,
thousand, three hundred Naira only (N490,300) from Battujo a known
terrorist, which sum you reasonably ought to know formed part
of the proceeds of Terrorism, and thereby committed an offence
contrary to and punishable under the section 21 of the
Terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count 2.
That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult,
of Dungun Muaza Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at
Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit
an offence, when you aided and abetted the activities of Battujo a
known bandit Kingpin and passed information through telephone
conversations to the said Battujo, and thereby committed an
offence contrary to and punishable under section 26 of the
terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count 3:
That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult,
of Dungun Mu’aza Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at
Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit
an offence when you received sponsorship to travel for Hajj Pilgrimage
from one BATTUJO a known bandit Kingpin from funds you
reasonably ought to know formed part of Terrorism, and thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21
of the terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count 4
That you SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult, of Dungun Mu’aza Sabuwa
LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the
jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit an offence concealed
information about the activities of Battujo a known bandit Kingpin
when you visited his forest camp and saw him in possession of firearms,
an information which you knew to be of material assistance in securing
his apprehension, but failed to disclose such information to any
law enforcement or security officer as soon as reasonably
practicable and thereby committed an offence contrary to and
punishable under Section 16 of the terrorism (Prevention
Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Count 5:
That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI, Female, adult, of Dungun Mu’aza
Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the
jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit an offence when you
concealed information about the activities of Battujo a suspected
bandit Kingpin, an information which you knew to be of material
assistance in securing his apprehension, but failed to disclose such
information to any law enforcement or security officer as soon
as reasonably practicable and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the terrorism
(Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.

By Gabriel Achadu

The Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos, on Friday, heard how one of the suspects standing trial for criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and illegally dealing in arms and ammunition in the Angwa Rukuba attack, led over 100 militiamen to attack Vom and many villages in Riyom Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

The suspect, Adamu Alhassan Isa aka Shagari Bangai, is one of the four men arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with the Angwa Rukuba massacre.

On Palm Sunday of 2026, a number of gunmen attacked Angwa Rukuba in Jos North LGA of the state, killing about 30 persons. Days later, the DSS also arrested Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar aka Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim aka Yaroro.

The Plateau State government charged the four suspects alongside one Ado Ibrahim, said to be at large, with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and illegally dealing in arms and ammunition.

At the resumed trial of the suspects, the prosecution presented a witness who chronicled Adamu Alhassan’s
history of involvement in banditry and terrorism activities around the state.

The witness, an officer of the DSS, told the court that, in his confessional statement, Alhassan admitted to leading over 100 militiamen to attack Vom and villages in Riyom LGA. At the time of his arrest, the witness further told the court, presided over by Justice Danladi Longden, over N4 million suspected to be for terrorism financing, was discovered in his bank account.
During cross examination, counsel to the defendant, Mustapha Ibrahim Shaba, SAN, made an application for the Certified True Copies (CTC) of the arresting officer and investigating officer’s statements to compare with the photocopies served on them by the prosecution.
The judge adjourned the matter to 3rd July 2026, to enable the prosecution provide the CTCs of the defendant’s statement and continuation of trial.

By Samuel Itsede

A Federal High Court in Katsina State has sentenced a female arms courier to death by hanging after the Department of State Services (DSS) successfully prosecuted her for conspiracy to commit, aid and abet terrorism, the second death sentence secured by the DSS in the month of June.

The convict, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, was arrested by the DSS on September 16, 2023, at Jibia Motor Park, Katsina State, while attempting to transport 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to one Ado, a notorious bandit kingpin operating in Dunburum Forest, Zamfara State.

On 3rd June, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men arrested by the DSS to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022, terror attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed over 40 lives.

Security sources revealed that, in Katsina, the DSS filed a two-count charge against Hauwa’u Mukhtar
before High Court No. 3, Katsina, presided over by Justice A. B. Bawale.

After evaluating the totality of evidence, witness testimonies, tendered exhibits, and final addresses of both prosecution and defence counsel, the court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, finding Mukhtar guilty on both counts.

The judge subsequently sentenced the convict to death by hanging in accordance with the provisions of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State, 2021.

“The successful prosecution is a significant milestone for the DSS, demonstrating its capacity to not only intercept criminal actors but to follow through with decisive legal action that results in landmark convictions.’, stated the source.

It could be recalled that, about a month ago, a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted and sentenced one Halima Haliru Umar to 20 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition and attempting to provide support for acts of terrorism marking the second conviction of a female arms courier secured by the DSS this year.