The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced five individuals to 25 years in prison for their involvement in the attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church in Papiri, Niger State, which occurred on November 21, 2025. The judgment, delivered by Justice Binta Nyako on Thursday, followed the guilty pleas of the defendants to all four terrorism-related charges. The trial is considered one of the fastest terrorism proceedings in Nigerian history.
Details of the Sentencing
The convicted men are 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). Among them, two are citizens of Niger Republic. They were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on May 31, 2026, at various locations. During one arrest, authorities recovered 15 AK-47 rifles and 1,434 rounds of live ammunition concealed in sacks inside a Volkswagen Golf car, which was subsequently forfeited to the Nigerian government.
The Charges
The charges included conspiracy to render assistance to terrorists, support for the commission of terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and failure to disclose information about a known terrorist. Specifically, Count 1 alleged that between April 23 and 24, 2026, the defendants conspired to convey 15 AK-103 rifles and 1,434 rounds of ammunition from the Diffa region of Niger Republic to a Boko Haram member in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. Count 2 detailed the actual support for terrorism, while Count 3 focused on the illegal possession of the weapons. Count 4 accused Yusuf Mohammed of withholding information about a terrorist named Malam Ahmad.
Background of the Attack
The attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church involved dozens of gunmen on motorcycles who stormed a Catholic boarding school, rounding up students and teachers. While approximately 50 children escaped, over 250 students were marched into the Kainji Lake Reserve Forest. The swift justice meted out by the court underscores the government's commitment to combating terrorism.
