A Sokoto State High Court 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 Niger Republic, alongside Jabbi Alhaji Yalle and Kabiru Muhammad — were arrested on June 13, 2025, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) Counter-Terrorism Unit over their involvement in cross-border arms trafficking and terrorism activities.
The case, marked SS/45C/2026, was heard by Justice Muhammad Nuraddeen Bello of High Court No. 23 in Sokoto.
In his judgment, Justice Bello convicted the three defendants on all counts and sentenced them to death by hanging. The court also ordered that all funds recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government.
According to the judge, the ruling represents another major success in ongoing efforts by the DSS to dismantle terrorism networks and organised cross-border criminal syndicates operating within and around Nigeria.
The judgment comes barely two weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced five men to 25 years imprisonment each for their involvement in the November 21, 2025 attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.
Justice Binta Nyako delivered the verdict after the defendants, including two Nigerien nationals, pleaded guilty to four terrorism-related charges brought against them.
The charges included providing support for terrorist activities, contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act.
According to court documents, the suspects conspired to transport 15 AK-103 rifles and approximately 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from the Diffa Region of Niger Republic to a suspected Boko Haram member, identified as Malam Ahmad, based in Borgu, Niger State.
The prosecution said the actions contravened Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, leading to their eventual arrest by DSS operatives at various locations.
