The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced two women arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) for their involvement with terrorism to forty years in prison.
The convicted women, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, are mother and sister respectively of the terrorist kingpin, Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, who was eliminated by Nigerian security forces, on June 10, 2026, in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State,
Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa handed the sentences after both women pleaded guilty to Counts 2, 4 and 5 of the five-count terrorism-related charge brought against them by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Both women escaped conviction on Counts 1 and 3, which bordered on they receiving N490,300 from Battujo, fully aware it was proceeds of terrorism, as well as Count 3, which was on their sponsored holy pilgrimage with the proceeds of terrorism. The Director of Public Prosecution, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, urged the court to strike out both counts, but convict them on the others.
According to Count 2, both women
“aided and abetted the activities of Battujo, a known bandit Kingpin and passed information through telephone
conversations to the said Battujo, and thereby committed an
offence contrary to and punishable under section 26 of the
terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
In addition to pleading guilty to Count 2, Battujo’s mum pleaded guilty to Count 5 which bordered on concealment of information on the terrorism activities of her son.
On her part, Halima, who is sister of the eliminated terrorist kingpin, in addition to pleading guilty to Count 2, also pleaded guilty to Count 4 which also bordered on concealment of information that her brother illegally acquired firearms which she saw when she visited his forest camp.
While the punishment for each of the Counts is 20 years, Justice Yilwa ordered that the sentences run concurrently, after which the convicts will undergo rehabilitation.
The Counts are:
1.
That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult,
of Dungun Muaza Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at
Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit
an offence, when you received the sum of four hundred and ninety,
thousand, three hundred Naira only (N490,300) from Battujo a known
terrorist, which sum you reasonably ought to know formed part
of the proceeds of Terrorism, and thereby committed an offence
contrary to and punishable under the section 21 of the
Terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count 2.
That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult,
of Dungun Muaza Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at
Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit
an offence, when you aided and abetted the activities of Battujo a
known bandit Kingpin and passed information through telephone
conversations to the said Battujo, and thereby committed an
offence contrary to and punishable under section 26 of the
terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count 3:
That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult,
of Dungun Mu’aza Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at
Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit
an offence when you received sponsorship to travel for Hajj Pilgrimage
from one BATTUJO a known bandit Kingpin from funds you
reasonably ought to know formed part of Terrorism, and thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21
of the terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count 4
That you SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult, of Dungun Mu’aza Sabuwa
LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the
jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit an offence concealed
information about the activities of Battujo a known bandit Kingpin
when you visited his forest camp and saw him in possession of firearms,
an information which you knew to be of material assistance in securing
his apprehension, but failed to disclose such information to any
law enforcement or security officer as soon as reasonably
practicable and thereby committed an offence contrary to and
punishable under Section 16 of the terrorism (Prevention
Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count 5:
That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI, Female, adult, of Dungun Mu’aza
Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the
jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit an offence when you
concealed information about the activities of Battujo a suspected
bandit Kingpin, an information which you knew to be of material
assistance in securing his apprehension, but failed to disclose such
information to any law enforcement or security officer as soon
as reasonably practicable and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the terrorism
(Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.
