A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, convicted and sentenced five terrorists to 25 years imprisonment each for their complicity in the terrorism attacks in Niger and Kwara states.
The convicts include two Nigeriens from Republic of Niger and their three Nigerian counterparts based in Borgu local government area of Niger state.
They are, Yusuf Mohammed (Aka Bature), Goni Ibrahim Bindi (Aka Goni Mutuwa), Sani Tukur (Aka Danladi), Mubarak Ibrahim and Musa Alhaji Adamu (Aka Gado Banufe) .
The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako ordered their imprisonment when they were arraigned before her on 4-count terrorism charges and instantly pleaded guilty to the charges.
In count one and two which bordered on conspiracy and rendering services to members of the Boko Haram members in Niger state, the Judge slammed 25 years imprisonment each on the five accused persons.
In count three in which four of them pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearms, Justice Nyako sentenced Goni Ibrahim Bindi (Aka Goni Mutuwa), Sani Tukur (Aka Danladi), Mubarak Ibrahim and Musa Alhaji Adamu (Aka Gado Banufe) to seven years imprisonment each.
Similarly, in count four, the 1st defendant, Yusuf Mohammed (Aka Bature), who admitted concealing information on the activities of the Boko Haram members in a forest in Niger state, bagged 25 years imprisonment.
Aside their imprisonment, Justice Nyako ordered that the Golf Car used to convey the 15 AK 103 Rifles from Niger Republic to Nigeria be forfeited to the federal government along with the firearms.
The charges against them bordered on rendering assistance to a terrorist by agreeing to convey rifles, being found with arms and ammunition while concealed, illegal possession and dealing with firearms and concealment.
Following their admission of guilt to the charges, the prosecution counsel prayed that the defendants be convicted as charged and also sought the court permission to tender from the bar the forwarding letter which contained the investigation report as well as the statements of the defendants, to which the defence counsel had no objection to the application.
The exhibits were subsequently admitted against them and marked as A, 1-5.
Also, 15 units of AK 103 rifles complete with its magazines and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were tendered with no objection from the defence counsel. They were admitted and marked as B, 1-14 and the ammunition marked as C series.
The court thereafter sentenced the five convicts on count one and two to 25 years imprisonment while on count three, the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants were sentenced to seven years imprisonment.
On count four, the 1st defendant was sentenced to 25 years and the sentences are to run concurrently from the date of arrest.
Justice Nyako ordered that they should serve their jail term in a place designated by the Minister of Interior.
The charges preferred against the convicts are, “That you, Yusuf Muhammad (a.k.a. Bature), adult, male, thirty-three (33) years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA, Niger State, Goni Ibrahim Bindi (a.k.a. Goni Mutua), adult, male, 23 years old of Awadiri, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Sani Tukur (a.k.a. Danladi), adult, male, 25 years old of Sansani Displaced Persons Camp, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Mubarak Ibrahim, adult, male 28 years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA of Niger State, and Musa Alhaji Adamu (a.k.a Gado Banufe) between 23rd and 24th April, 2026 did commit an offence, to wit: jointly conspired to render assistance to a terrorist by agreeing and intentionally playing various roles towards conveying 15 AK 103 rifles as well as about 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from Diffa region, Republic of Niger to one Malam Ahmad, a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group based in Borgu LGA of Niger State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022”.
Count two reads, “That you, Yusuf Muhammad (a.k.a. Bature), adult, male, 33 years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA, Niger State, Goni Ibrahim Bindi (a.k.a. Goni Mutua), adult, male, 23 years old of Awadiri, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Sani Tukur (a.k.a. Danladi), adult, male, 25 years old of Sansani Displaced Persons Camp, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Mubarak Ibrahim, adult, male, 28 years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA of Niger State, and Musa Alhaji Adamu (a.k.a Gado Banufe) between 23rd and 24th April, 2026 did commit an offence of commission of act of terrorism to a terrorist by agreeing and conveying 15 AK 103 rifles as well as about 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from Diffa region, Republic of Niger on behalf of one Malam Ahmad, a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group based in Borgu LGA of Niger State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022”.
In count three, they were said to have, in sometime in April, 2026 at Kwangila area, along Kano-Kaduna express, Zaria did commit an offence, by been in possession of 15 AK 103 rifles and about 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition carefully concealed in sacks containing dried fish loaded in a blue Volkswagen (golf 3) car with Republic of Niger registered plate number BT 9990 DA, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (a) (i), and (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28 LFN, 2004.
Count four reads, “That you, Yusuf Muhammad (a.K.a, Bature), adult, male, 33 years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA, Niger State, sometimes between February 2025 and April, 2026 did commit an offence, to wit: you had information which you know or believed to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of Malam Ahmad, a known terrorist hibernating in Gandu forest, Borgu LGA of Niger State, and you failed to disclose such information to law enforcement or security officers. You thereby committed an offence in contravention of Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022”.
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