The Federal High Court in Abuja has delivered a significant verdict in Nigeria's fight against terrorism, sentencing a prominent Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) commander to 20 years imprisonment for his role in multiple deadly attacks.
Terror Coordinator Faces Justice
Justice Emeka Nwite pronounced the sentence on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, after the defendant, Hussaini Ismaila (also known as Mai Tangaran), changed his initial plea to guilty on four counts of terrorism charges. The Department of State Services (DSS) had prosecuted Ismaila for coordinating several devastating attacks in Kano State.
The prosecution successfully demonstrated that Ismaila served as the mastermind behind the 2012 coordinated assaults on multiple security facilities in Kano. These included the Police Headquarters in Bompai, Mobile Police Base on Kabuga Road, Pharm Centre Police Station, and Angwa Uku Police Station, among other targets. These attacks resulted in numerous casualties and significant property damage.
Long Road to Justice
The legal journey began when DSS operatives arrested Ismaila on August 31, 2017, at Tsamiyya Babba Village in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State. He was immediately arraigned under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act of 2013, but the trial faced substantial delays due to multiple factors.
The court conducted a trial-within-trial to verify the voluntariness of Ismaila's extra-judicial statements, while numerous appeals further prolonged the process. When proceedings finally commenced, the prosecution presented five compelling witnesses, including two DSS officials and two eyewitnesses who had survived the attacks.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
In a dramatic turn of events, Ismaila changed his plea from not guilty to guilty after hearing the testimony of the fifth prosecution witness. His defense counsel, P.B. Onijah from the Legal Aid Council, appealed for leniency, arguing that his client had shown genuine remorse and changed his plea to save the court's valuable time.
Justice Nwite delivered the following sentences:
- 15 years imprisonment for count one
- 20 years imprisonment for counts two, three, and four
The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning Ismaila will serve a maximum of 20 years. Importantly, the sentencing period will be calculated from the date of his arrest in August 2017.
Rehabilitation and Reintegration
In a progressive aspect of the judgment, Justice Nwite mandated that the Controller-General of the Correctional Service confine Ismaila at any prison facility of their choice. More significantly, the judge ordered that upon completion of his prison term, Ismaila must undergo comprehensive rehabilitation and deradicalization programs before being reintegrated into society.
This landmark judgment represents a crucial victory for Nigeria's justice system in holding terrorists accountable for their actions while emphasizing the importance of rehabilitation in addressing the root causes of extremism.
