By Paul Joseph
A High Court sitting in Sokoto State has sentenced three men, including a foreign national from the Republic of Niger, to death by hanging after convicting them of terrorism-related offences and illegal arms trafficking.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Nuraddeen Muhammad Bello of High Court No. 23 in Sokoto, who found the defendants guilty after determining that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The convicts—Jabbi Alhaji Yalle, a Nigerien citizen, Yusuf Muhammad, popularly known as Sallau, and Kabiru Muhammad—were tried on charges bordering on terrorism and the proliferation of illegal weapons.
In the suit marked SS/45C/2026, the court ruled that the evidence presented clearly linked the three men to criminal activities involving the movement and supply of arms used by terrorist and criminal groups.
Following their conviction, Justice Bello imposed the death penalty and ordered that all cash exhibits recovered during investigations be forfeited to the Federal Government.
The defendants were arrested on June 13, 2025, by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) Counter-Terrorism Unit over their alleged involvement in cross-border arms trafficking and terrorism-related activities.
Security investigations reportedly uncovered their roles in facilitating the transfer of weapons across borders, with authorities linking the arms to criminal and terrorist operations.
The ruling has drawn positive reactions from residents of Sokoto State, many of whom praised security agencies for intensifying efforts against terrorism and transnational crime.
Observers said the judgment sends a strong message to individuals involved in terrorism financing, arms trafficking and other activities that threaten national security. They also urged relevant institutions to ensure the prompt prosecution of similar cases to strengthen the fight against insecurity.
Residents expressed hope that the verdict would serve as a deterrent to criminal elements operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders while reinforcing public confidence in the justice system’s response to terrorism-related offences.
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