Justice Muhammad Bello of a High Court sitting in Sokoto State has sentenced three men, including a foreign national, to death by hanging, after convicting them on charges of terrorism and arms proliferation. The convicts—Yusuf Muhammad (alias Sallau), a Nigerien; Jabbi Alhaji Yalle; and Kabiru Muhammad—were arrested on June 13, 2025, by the Department of State Services (DSS) Counter Terrorism Unit for cross-border criminal activities involving arms trafficking and terrorism.
Court Proceedings and Verdict
Delivering judgment in case number SS/45c/2026, Justice Bello found all three defendants guilty as charged and sentenced them to death by hanging. The court also ordered the forfeiture of all monetary exhibits recovered from the convicts to the Federal Government. The judge stated, “The conviction is the latest in a series of successful prosecutions by the DSS in its sustained operations against terrorism and organised cross-border criminal networks across Nigeria.”
Impact and Broader Context
The ruling underscores ongoing efforts by Nigerian security agencies to combat terrorism and illegal arms flows, particularly in the northern region. The DSS has intensified operations targeting cross-border crime networks, which have been linked to instability and violence in the area. This conviction serves as a deterrent and highlights the judiciary's role in supporting national security initiatives.
