The High Court of Adamawa State has sentenced three men to death for the kidnapping of two Catholic priests, Reverend Fathers Matthew Dutsemi and Abraham Sauman, in February 2025. The ruling, delivered on Thursday by Justice Christopher Mapeo, marks the seventh death sentence secured by the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2026.
Adamawa Court Convicts Three in Priest Kidnapping Case
Justice Mapeo found Taledo Demiel, Namomai Medan, and Mikaila Yusuf guilty on multiple counts, including criminal conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, harbouring a kidnapped person, and negotiating to receive ransom. The court imposed the death sentence on all three men for kidnapping, armed robbery, and related offences.
The February 2025 abduction of the two Catholic priests drew significant attention, and Thursday's judgment brings a decisive legal conclusion to the case. The DSS, which handled the investigation and prosecution, has now recorded seven death sentences across Nigerian courts in 2026.
Earlier Death Sentences in Ekiti and Abuja
On May 20, 2026, the Ekiti High Court sentenced Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar to death by hanging for kidnapping. About two weeks later, on June 3, 2026, a Federal High Court in Abuja handed down death sentences to four men — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Alqasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulkareem Idris — for the June 2022 massacre of worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The Abuja ruling was particularly notable given the severity of the Owo church attack, which resulted in multiple fatalities and widespread condemnation. The court's decision to impose the death penalty reflected the gravity of the offences committed.
Katsina, Kogi, and Sokoto Rulings
On June 15, 2026, a Katsina High Court sentenced Hauwa'u Mukhtar, a female arms courier, to death by hanging. The following day, a Kogi High Court condemned Jibrin Halilu to death for kidnapping and murdering his neighbour in Obajana.
A week later, on June 22, 2026, a Sokoto High Court sentenced three men — Muhammed Yusuf Sallau, Jabbi Ahlaji Yale, and Kabiru Muhammed — to death by hanging for terrorism and transporting arms. These rulings demonstrate the DSS's coordinated efforts to secure convictions in security-related cases across multiple states.
September Sokoto Ruling and the Latest Adamawa Judgment
On September 28, 2026, a Sokoto High Court sentenced Ibrahim Usman, also known as Dan Iyali, to death by hanging over his role in the killing of three kidnapped persons in the state. That ruling preceded Thursday's Adamawa judgment, making it the sixth death sentence in the DSS's 2026 tally.
Thursday's Adamawa ruling now brings the total to seven death sentences secured by the DSS in 2026. The National Television Authority (NTA) reported the Adamawa ruling on X, confirming the court's decision. The DSS continues to pursue legal actions against individuals involved in kidnapping, terrorism, and related crimes, with courts across Nigeria delivering sentences in line with the severity of the offences.
