..INCLUDING NIGERIEN NATIONAL, FOR ARMS TRAFFICKING”
By Mahmoud
A High Court in Sokoto State has sentenced three convicted terrorists, including a foreign national, to death by hanging for terrorism-related offences and illegal arms trafficking. The judgment was delivered by Justice Nuraddeen Muhammed Bello of High Court No. 23 in suit number SS/45C/2026.
The convicts are Jabbi Alhaji Yalle, a citizen of Niger Republic; Yusuf Muhammad, popularly known as Sallau; and Kabiru Muhammad. They were prosecuted by the Department of State Services, DSS.
The court found them guilty of terrorism and arms trafficking offences. Justice Bello ruled that “the evidence before this court clearly establishes the culpability of the defendants in the offences of terrorism and arms trafficking” and sentenced them to death by hanging.
Court records showed the three men were arrested on 13th June 2025 by operatives of the DSS Counter-Terrorism Unit during intelligence-led operations targeting cross-border criminal networks in Nigeria’s North-West region.
Investigations linked the convicts to the movement and supply of arms as well as support for terrorist activities that have contributed to insecurity in parts of the region. The case highlights how cross-border networks fuel banditry and insurgency in Sokoto and neighboring states.
Beyond the death sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of all monetary exhibits and assets recovered from the convicts during the investigation to the Federal Government.
Justice Bello said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through evidence and witness testimonies presented before the court. The judge found all three defendants guilty as charged.
The ruling is being viewed as a significant milestone in efforts to combat terrorism, arms trafficking, and organized cross-border crime. Security experts say it sends a strong signal to criminal networks operating along Nigeria’s borders.
Residents who reacted to the ruling commended the DSS for what they described as a diligent investigation that led to the successful prosecution of the suspects. Many expressed hope that such convictions will deter others involved in arms supply to bandits.
10. Broader Security Context
Sokoto shares borders with Niger Republic and faces persistent threats from bandit groups and cross-border smugglers. The conviction comes as security agencies intensify operations against armed groups responsible for kidnappings and attacks in the North-West.
Under Nigerian law, convicts sentenced to death have the right to appeal the judgment at the Court of Appeal and, if necessary, the Supreme Court. The sentence will only be carried out after all legal avenues are exhausted.
The Department of State Services, which handled the investigation and prosecution, has been praised for using intelligence-led operations to dismantle arms supply chains that sustain terrorism in the region.
The court’s decision reinforces the government’s stance that terrorism and arms proliferation will be met with the full weight of the law. Authorities say more cases involving cross-border crime are under investigation.
For communities affected by banditry in Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina, the conviction represents a step toward justice. Victims’ families and local leaders say cutting off arms supply is key to ending the cycle of violence.
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