A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced five bandits to 25 years imprisonment each for their roles in the attack on a Catholic Church boarding school in in Papari, Niger State that led to the abduction of hundreds of students.
The convicts, Yusuf Muhammad, also known as Bature; Goni Bindi, also called Goni Mutua; Sani Tukur, known as Danladi; Mubarak Ibrahim; and Musa Adamu, popularly called Gado Banufe — were found guilty of terrorism-related offences after admitting to their involvement.
Their guilty pleas enabled an accelerated conclusion of the trial, after which the court imposed identical 25-year jail terms on all five defendants.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, following their prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS), which arrested them on May 31, 2026.
The court held that the offences constituted serious violations of Nigeria’s anti-terrorism laws, including conspiracy, logistical support for terrorism, and unlawful movement of weapons.
According to court proceedings, the defendants were involved in transporting 15 AK-103 rifles and 1,434 rounds of ammunition intended for a suspected Boko Haram associate identified as Malam Ahmad.
Investigators told the court that the convicts knowingly participated in activities that facilitated terrorism, a claim supported by recovered weapons and other exhibits tendered during the trial.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of a Volkswagen Golf vehicle allegedly used in the operation to the Federal Government.