The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, the mother and sister of slain terrorist kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, to 40 years imprisonment each for terrorism-related offences.
Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa delivered the judgment after both defendants pleaded guilty to charges bordering on aiding terrorist activities and concealing information related to terrorism. The prosecution was instituted by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation following investigations by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Battujo, a notorious terrorist leader, was killed by Nigerian security forces during an operation conducted on June 10, 2026, in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
According to court documents, the two women were arraigned on a five-count charge. However, the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, requested the court to strike out Counts 1 and 3, which accused them of receiving funds and sponsorship linked to proceeds of terrorism.
The struck-out charges alleged that the defendants received N490,300 from Battujo despite knowing that the money was derived from terrorist activities and also benefited from sponsorship for a religious pilgrimage funded through proceeds of terrorism.
The court subsequently convicted the defendants on the remaining counts to which they had pleaded guilty.
Count 2 accused both women of aiding and abetting the activities of Battujo by maintaining communication with him and passing information through telephone conversations despite knowing he was a wanted bandit and terrorist leader. The offence is punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In addition to the charge of aiding terrorism, Safiya Salihu was convicted on Count 5 for concealing information regarding the terrorism-related activities of her son and failing to disclose such information to relevant authorities.
Halima Abdullahi was also convicted on Count 4 for concealing information concerning firearms allegedly acquired illegally by her brother. The court heard that she became aware of the weapons during a visit to his camp but failed to report the matter to security agencies.
Justice Yilwa held that the defendants’ guilty pleas and the facts presented by the prosecution established their culpability beyond reasonable doubt.
The court sentenced each of the women to 20 years imprisonment on each count for which they were convicted. However, the judge ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning the prison terms would be served at the same time rather than consecutively.
The court further directed that after serving their jail terms, the convicts should undergo rehabilitation as part of efforts aimed at their reintegration into society.
The judgment marks one of the latest convictions secured under Nigeria’s terrorism laws as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle support networks linked to terrorist and bandit groups operating across the country.
