Court Sentences Three Terrorists to Death, Jails Two for Life Over Terrorism Offences

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced three terrorists to death by hanging and two others to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to various terrorism-related offences brought against them by the Federal Government.

The convictions were secured during the ongoing terrorism trials being conducted by the Federal Government in Abuja as part of efforts to address insecurity and violent crimes across the country.

The three convicts sentenced to death were identified as Danladi Lawal, Abdullahi Mohammed and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu.

While Justice James Omotosho sentenced Danladi Lawal to death, Justices Salim Ibrahim convicted and handed death sentences to Abdullahi Mohammed and Mohammed Gulama Shaibu after they admitted to the charges preferred against them.

During proceedings before Justice Omotosho, 33-year-old Lawal, also known as Dankawu, pleaded guilty to a five-count charge after it was read to him in court.

Following his plea, the court convicted him and imposed varying sentences on the different counts. He was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment on count one, 15 years imprisonment on count two, life imprisonment on count three, death by hanging on count four, and life imprisonment on count five.

Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho told the convict, “May God have mercy on you.”

According to court documents marked FHC/KNJ/CR/956/2026, the Federal Government, through the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), accused Lawal and several accomplices still at large of engaging in acts of terrorism and kidnapping.

One of the charges revealed that Lawal and others abducted and detained an elderly man for four days in a forest hideout located in Ilela in 2020. The kidnappers were said to have demanded a ransom of N950,000 from the victim’s family before his release.

The prosecution argued that the act was intended to intimidate members of the public and create fear and insecurity within the affected community.

The court held that the offences constituted acts of terrorism under relevant Nigerian laws and warranted severe punishment.

The latest convictions form part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to prosecute individuals accused of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and related offences threatening national security and public safety across the country.