A High Court sitting in Sokoto State has sentenced three men, including a Nigerien national, to death by hanging after finding them guilty of terrorism and arms proliferation.
The convicts, Yusuf Muhammad, also known as Sallau, a Nigerien national; Jabbi Yalle; and Kabiru Muhammad, were arrested on June 13, 2025, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) Counter-Terrorism Unit.
Their prosecution culminated in the case marked SS/45c/2026, which was heard before Justice Muhammad Nuraddeen Bello of High Court No. 23, Sokoto.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Bello found the three defendants guilty on all counts and sentenced them to death by hanging.
The court also ordered that all monetary exhibits recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government.
In his ruling, the judge described the conviction as another significant milestone in the fight against terrorism and related crimes, noting that it reflects the success of ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle criminal networks operating within and across Nigeria’s borders.
“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,” Justice Bello said.
The judgment highlights the government’s commitment to tackling terrorism, arms trafficking, and other threats to national security. It also highlights the determination of law enforcement agencies to pursue and prosecute individuals involved in activities that undermine peace and stability.
Security agencies have pledged to sustain the crackdown on terrorist groups and arms traffickers as part of broader efforts to safeguard the country and restore lasting peace in affected communities.