Boko Haram: Court slams 25-year jail term on five terrorists each

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced five terrorists prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) to 25 years imprisonment each for terrorism-related offences linked to activities in Niger and Kwara states.

The convicts include two citizens of the Republic of Niger and three Nigerians from Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

They are Yusuf Mohammed (aka Bature), Goni Ibrahim Bindi (aka Goni Mutuwa), Sani Tukur (aka Danladi), Mubarak Ibrahim and Musa Alhaji Adamu (aka Gado Banufe).

Justice Binta Fatimah Nyako handed down the sentences on Thursday after the five defendants pleaded guilty to a four-count charge bordering on terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and concealment of information about terrorist activities.

On counts one and two, which related to conspiracy and providing support to members of the Boko Haram terrorist group, the judge sentenced each of the defendants to 25 years imprisonment.

On count three, bordering on unlawful possession of firearms, Goni Ibrahim Bindi, Sani Tukur, Mubarak Ibrahim and Musa Alhaji Adamu were sentenced to seven years imprisonment each after pleading guilty to the charge.

The first defendant, Yusuf Mohammed, was separately sentenced to 25 years imprisonment on count four for concealing information about the activities and whereabouts of Boko Haram members operating in a forest in Niger State.

Justice Nyako ordered that all the sentences run concurrently from the date of the convicts’ arrest.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of a Volkswagen Golf car used to transport 15 AK-103 rifles from the Republic of Niger into Nigeria, as well as the firearms, to the Federal Government.

The DSS had charged the defendants with conspiring to assist terrorists, conveying weapons for members of the Boko Haram group, unlawful possession and transportation of firearms and ammunition, and failure to disclose information capable of leading to the arrest of a known terrorist.

During the proceedings, prosecution counsel urged the court to convict the defendants based on their guilty pleas and sought permission to tender the investigation report and statements of the accused persons as evidence.

The defence counsel did not oppose the application.

The court subsequently admitted the documents as exhibits.

Also admitted in evidence were 15 AK-103 rifles with magazines and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition recovered from the convicts.

According to the charges, the defendants conspired between April 23 and 24, 2026, to transport the rifles and ammunition from the Diffa region of the Republic of Niger to one Malam Ahmad, alleged to be a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group operating in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The prosecution further alleged that the weapons and ammunition were concealed in sacks containing dried fish and loaded in a blue Volkswagen Golf car with Niger Republic registration number BT 9990 DA.

The court ordered that the convicts serve their jail terms in a correctional facility designated by the Minister of Interior.