A federal high court in Abuja has sentenced five men linked to the 2025 abduction of more than 300 students from a Catholic school in Niger state to prison after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences.
The convicts — Yusuf Mohammed, also known as Bature; Goni
Ibrahim Bindi, also known as Goni Mutuwa; Sani Tukur, also known as Danladi;
Mubarak Ibrahim; and Musa Alhaji Adamu, also known as Gado Banufe — were
arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) before Binta Nyako, the
presiding judge.
One of the convicts is a citizen of the Republic of Niger.
The defendants pleaded guilty to a four-count charge
bordering on terrorism financing and support, unlawful possession of firearms
and ammunition, and concealment of information about a suspected terrorist.
Following their plea, the prosecution tendered documentary
and physical evidence recovered during the investigation, including 15 AK-103
rifles and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.
The prosecution also submitted investigation reports,
statements made by the defendants, and other supporting documents. The defence
did not object to the exhibits.
After admitting the evidence, the judge convicted the
defendants and invited them to make allocutus before sentencing.
The judge subsequently sentenced all five defendants to 25
years in prison on the first count.
On counts two and three, the third, fourth and fifth
defendants were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment each, while Yusuf
Mohammed received an additional 25-year sentence on the fourth count.
Nyako ordered that the sentences run concurrently from the
date of their arrest.
The judge also directed that the convicts serve their terms
at facilities designated by the minister of interior and ordered the forfeiture
of all exhibits, including a Volkswagen vehicle used in transporting the
weapons, to the federal government.
According to the charge, the defendants conspired to
transport 15 AK-103 rifles and 1,434 rounds of ammunition from the Diffa region
of the Republic of Niger to a suspected Boko Haram member identified as Malam
Ahmad in the Borgu LGA of Niger state.
Prosecutors also alleged that some of the weapons were
concealed inside sacks of dried fish loaded in a vehicle intercepted along the
Kano-Kaduna highway.
In November 2025, gunmen abducted 315 people, including 303
students and 12 teachers, from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri village,
Niger state.
Fifty pupils escaped within 24 hours, and the remaining
abductees were released over the following weeks.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com