Court in Sokoto sentences two Nigerians, one Nigerien to death for terrorism, arms trafficking
A High Court in Sokoto state has sentenced three men, including a Nigerien national, to death by hanging after finding them guilty of terrorism-related offences and illegal arms trafficking.
The convicts — Yusuf Muhammad, also known as Sallau, a citizen of the Niger Republic; Jabbi Alhaji Yalle; and Kabiru Muhammad — were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on June 13, 2025, over their alleged involvement in cross-border arms smuggling and terrorist activities.
In a ruling delivered in suit number SS/45C/2026, Muhammad Bello, the presiding judge, held that the prosecution had proved its case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced them to death by hanging.
The judge also ordered that all money recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the federal government.
“The conviction is the latest in a series of successful prosecutions by the DSS in its sustained operations against terrorism and organised cross-border criminal networks across Nigeria,” he said.
The verdict comes amid the federal government’s intensified push to prosecute terrorism suspects and those accused of providing material support to insurgent groups.
In April, a federal high court in Abuja convicted four persons accused of supplying food items, livestock, cigarettes and illicit substances to Boko Haram insurgents in Borno state.
The convicts received various prison terms after pleading guilty to terrorism-related offences.
The federal government has also continued the latest phase of its mass terrorism trials, with more than 500 suspects facing prosecution before multiple judges of the federal high court in Abuja.
The trials are being coordinated by the office of the attorney-general of the federation, while the defendants are represented by lawyers from the Legal Aid Council.
