Court Sentences Boko Haram Member to Death Over 2015 Maiduguri Attack

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a Boko Haram member, Alkali Yarima, also known as La’ari, to death by hanging for his involvement in the 2015 terrorist attacks on Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Friday after finding Yarima guilty on a seven-count terrorism charge filed against him by the Federal Government.

The court imposed the death penalty on the count relating to his participation in the 2015 Maiduguri attack. Justice Omotosho also sentenced the convict to life imprisonment on count six after holding that he received arms and weapons training in preparation for terrorist activities.

In addition, Yarima was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment on count one, 30 years on count five, and 10 years each on counts two, three and four.

According to the prosecution, Yarima was arraigned in the suit marked FHC/KNJ/CR/971/2026. The charges were filed on May 29 by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

The prosecution told the court that Yarima, who hails from the Lawanti area of Mafa Local Government Area in Borno State, was an active member of the proscribed Boko Haram terrorist group between 2009 and 2015 before his eventual arrest.

The government further alleged that he embraced the ideology and teachings of the late Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, an act that contravenes Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.

Evidence presented before the court also showed that Yarima travelled to an unnamed Arab country, where he underwent specialised training in the use of arms and weapons to prepare for terrorist operations, an offence punishable under Section 21 of the same Act.

His conviction on count seven, which established his direct participation in the deadly 2015 attacks on Maiduguri, formed the basis for the death sentence imposed by the court under Section 2(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act, 2013.

The trial initially commenced at Kainji in Niger State before it was transferred and concluded at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The judgment represents another conviction secured by Nigerian authorities in ongoing efforts to prosecute individuals linked to Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism across the country.