The Nigerian justice system barked and bit hard, sending a clear warning to families and abetters of terrorism when it, on Friday, unblinkingly sentenced to 40 years in prison two women arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) for their involvement in terrorism-related activities.
The Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, mother and sister, respectively, of terrorist kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, who was reportedly killed by Nigerian security forces on 10 June, 2026, in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State.
Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa handed down the sentences after both women pleaded guilty to Counts 2, 4 and 5 of the five-count charge brought against them by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
However, the women escaped conviction on Counts 1 and 3, which bordered on receiving the sum of N490,300 from Battujo while being fully aware it was proceeds of terrorism, as well as receiving sponsorship for a holy pilgrimage funded with proceeds of terrorism.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Oyedepo Rotimi SAN, urged the court to strike out both counts but convict them on the others.
Count 2 stated that both women “aided and abetted the activities of Battujo, a known bandit kingpin, and passed information through telephone conversations to the said Battujo, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
In addition to pleading guilty to Count 2, Battujo’s mother pleaded guilty to Count 5, which bordered on concealing information about the terrorism-related activities of her son.
On her part, the sister of the late terror leader, in addition to pleading guilty to Count 2, also pleaded guilty to Count 4, which bordered on concealing information that her brother had illegally acquired firearms, which she saw when she visited his forest camp.
While the punishment for each count is 20 years, Justice Yilwa ordered that the sentences run concurrently, after which the convicts will undergo rehabilitation.
*PHOTO CAPTION: L-R: Sister and mother of the late Battujo.
