Sokoto Court Sentences Three Terrorism Convicts To Death Over Arms Trafficking Charges

A High Court sitting in Sokoto State has sentenced three men, including a Nigerien citizen, to death by hanging after convicting them of terrorism-related offences, illegal arms dealings, and other security breaches.

The convicts — Yusuf Muhammad, popularly known as Sallau, a Nigerien national; Jabbi Alhaji Yalle; and Kabiru Muhammad — were found guilty of offences linked to terrorism, arms proliferation, and alleged involvement in cross-border criminal networks.

The trio were arrested on June 13, 2025, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) Counter Terrorism Unit following investigations into their alleged connections with arms trafficking activities and terrorist groups.

The case, filed as SS/45C/2026, was presided over by Justice Muhammad Nuraddeen Bello of High Court No. 23, Sokoto.

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Delivering judgment, Justice Bello held that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence to prove the charges against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

The court subsequently convicted the three men and sentenced them to death by hanging. It also ordered the forfeiture of all financial exhibits recovered from them to the Federal Government.

The ruling adds to ongoing efforts by security agencies and judicial authorities to tackle terrorism, illegal arms trade, and organised criminal activities threatening national security.

The DSS welcomed the judgment, describing it as a major step in its continued counter-terrorism operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks, arms suppliers, and individuals involved in violent extremist activities.