DSS demands terrorists’ death penalty…

The Department of State Services (DSS) has vowed to challenge the life imprisonment handed to the three terrorists convicted over the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, insisting the punishment is too lenient.

Key Highlights

• DSS to appeal: The Department of State Services (DSS) will challenge the life imprisonment sentences imposed on three convicted terrorists.
• Seeking death penalty: The agency argues that the beheading of two teachers during the attack is a capital offence deserving the death penalty.
• Convicted terrorists: Abdulrazak Umar (Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (Yunusa Bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges.
• Terrorism offences: The trio admitted to offences including membership of Darul Salam (an affiliate of Ansaru), concealing information about the kidnapping, and promoting extremist ideology.
• Additional sentences: Abdulrazak Umar received multiple life sentences for training terrorists, issuing instructions, and inciting violence through extremist teachings.

The agency said it would appeal the judgment, arguing that the gruesome beheading of two teachers during the attack is a capital offence that should attract the death penalty.

Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Thursday, sentenced the three terrorists to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences, including membership of Darul Salam, an affiliate of the Ansaru terrorist group, concealing information about the kidnapping, and promoting extremist ideology.

The convicted men are Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa (Yunusa Bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar).

Abdulrazak Umar specifically pleaded guilty to charges relating to training terrorist members, issuing instructions, and inciting violence through extremist religious teachings.

Read also:

The trio had been arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, concealment of information, terrorism, and facilitating terrorist activities, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Justice Ibrahim sentenced all three to life imprisonment on Count 6, while Umar received additional life sentences on Counts 7, 9, and 10.

However, the DSS maintains that the sentences do not reflect the gravity of the crimes, particularly the killing of two teachers during the abduction, and says it will seek the death penalty at the appellate court.

The latest development comes barely a week after another Federal High Court in Abuja, sentenced two senior Ansaru commanders, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (Abu Bara’a) and Mahmud al-Nigeri (Mallam Mamuda), to life imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.