DSS Secures Death Sentence Against Kogi Kidnap Suspect

A High Court of Kogi State has sentenced a man, Jibrin Halilu, to death for kidnapping and killing his neighbour, Uche Andrew Offo, a hotel proprietor in Obajana.

NEWSNGR reports that the judgment came barely 24 hours after a Katsina State High Court sentenced a female arms courier arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) to death.

It also followed a recent Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, which sentenced four men to death for their roles in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

The Kogi court, presided over by Justice Abdul Nicodemus Awulu, found Halilu guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping.

The offences were said to contravene Sections 12, 6(1), and 4(3)(a) of the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences Prohibition Law, 2023.

Following the conviction, the court sentenced Halilu to death.

According to the prosecution, Halilu and members of his armed gang stormed Everready Hotel in Angwa-Tiv, Obajana, on March 23, 2023, and abducted the proprietor, Offo.

The victim’s family reportedly paid the ₦2.5 million ransom demanded by the abductors, but Offo was still killed.

According to TVC, a security source said DSS investigations revealed that the victim recognised Halilu, who was his neighbour, while in captivity.

“DSS investigations revealed that, while with his abductors, Offo was able to identify Halilu, who happened to be his neighbour, as being part of those who kidnapped him. That was when Halilu, despite the ₦2.5 million ransom he collected from Offo’s family, still killed him,” the source said.

The DSS prosecutor told the court that operatives of the service arrested Halilu on December 4, 2025.

Further investigations by the DSS also linked Halilu and his gang to another kidnapping in Lokoja.

“Further investigations by the DSS also linked Halilu and his gang to the April 2, 2023 kidnapping of one Ibrahim Abdullahi, a resident of Oshokoshoko Community in Lokoja, from whom the gang collected a ₦5 million ransom,” the source added.

The Kogi conviction comes after the June 3, 2026 verdict of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which sentenced four men to death for the Owo church attack.

Those convicted were Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik and Abdulhaleem Idris.

The attack left more than 40 worshippers dead and over 100 others injured.

A source described the recent convictions as a major boost for the DSS in the prosecution of terrorism, kidnapping and violent crime cases.

“These convictions mark a significant run of courtroom victories for the DSS, reinforcing the message that those who engage in terrorism, kidnapping, and armed violence will not only be caught, but will be prosecuted and made to face the full consequences of their actions,” the source said.