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 by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) Counter-Terrorism Unit on 13 June 2025 over their alleged 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 the forfeiture of all funds and monetary exhibits recovered from the convicts to the Federal Government.
According to the court, the convictions underscore ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle terrorist networks and combat the proliferation of illegal arms across Nigeria’s borders.
The judgment comes barely two weeks after the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced five men, including two Nigerien nationals, to 25 years imprisonment each for their roles 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 pleaded guilty to four terrorism-related charges brought against them by the DSS.
The charges included providing support for terrorist activities in violation of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as offences under 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 one Malam Ahmad, identified as a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group operating in Borgu, Niger State.
The DSS arrested the suspects at different locations following intelligence-led operations.
