The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday convicted and sentenced the mother and sister of late bandit kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo to 40 years’ imprisonment each for terrorism-related offences.
The convicts, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, were found to have aided Battujo’s activities by passing information to him through telephone communications, in violation of Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Delivering judgment, Justice Hauwa Yilwa also held that the defendants failed to disclose information about the bandit’s activities to security agencies, despite having visited his forest camp and seen him in possession of firearms.
The court said the failure to report such material information constituted an offence under relevant provisions of the anti-terrorism law.
Justice Yilwa sentenced both women after they pleaded guilty to counts 2, 4 and 5 of a five-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
However, the court discharged them on counts 1 and 3, which alleged that they received ₦490,300 from Battujo, knowing the funds were proceeds of terrorism, as well as allegations that they benefitted from sponsorship for a pilgrimage to Hajj.
The Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), had earlier applied for the withdrawal of the two counts, while urging the court to convict the defendants on the remaining charges.
Battujo, described as a notorious bandit kingpin, was killed by security forces on June 10, 2026, in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Court documents showed that the defendants, both from Dungun Mu’aza in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, aided Battujo by relaying information to him via telephone and failing to report his activities despite being aware of his operations.
According to one of the counts, the defendants “aided and abetted the activities of Battujo, a known bandit kingpin, by passing information through telephone conversations,” contrary to Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Another count stated that they failed to disclose information about his activities after visiting his camp and observing firearms in his possession, despite knowing such information was critical to his arrest.
The court held that their actions amounted to concealment of material information that could have assisted security agencies in apprehending the bandit leader.
