Court jails Chinese national, 19 Nigerians over terrorism in Kebbi

The Federal High Court in Birnin Kebbi has convicted and sentenced a Chinese national and 19 Nigerians for offences including terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and vandalism of critical national infrastructure.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Gakko, followed 17 months of investigation and prosecution by the Kebbi State Police Command.

The court sentenced two alleged terrorism kingpins, Aliyu Hadari and Umar Musa Uzzi, to 15 years’ imprisonment on each of three counts bordering on terrorism, providing logistics to an armed terrorist group and conspiracy to commit terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The convicts were intercepted along Yauri Road while travelling in a vehicle allegedly acquired to transport kidnap victims to their forest hideout.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle and a Bajaj motorcycle to the Federal Government as instruments and proceeds of terrorism.

In a separate ruling, 11 persons were convicted of unlawful possession of firearms. Police said 11 firearms, including locally fabricated pistols and dane guns, were recovered.

A Chinese national, Mr Ripin Liu, who was arrested with a locally made Beretta pistol, was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine.

Mohammed Bello Ibrahim, also known as Banki, received a four-year prison sentence without an option of a fine.

Abubakar Siddi, Mohammed Bako, Bello Dantiye, Aliyu Dandaula, Abubakar Usman and Buba Alhaji Umaru were each sentenced to three years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine.

Buba Alhaji Umaru was arrested in Bagudo Local Government Area after allegedly crossing from a neighbouring country with a locally fabricated pistol.

John Zweme was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment without an option of a fine, while Aliyu Bako and Sani Alaramma received two-year prison sentences each without an option of a fine.

Six other persons, identified as Sani Tanko, Ibrahim Hamza, Samson Sunday, Abdulrahman Isah, Adamu Musa and Masudu, were convicted of vandalising and stealing electric cables in Sakaba Local Government Area. The act reportedly plunged affected communities into darkness.

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They received prison sentences ranging from three to eight years.

Reacting to the judgment, the Commissioner of Police in Kebbi State, CP Umar M. Hadejia, said the convictions sent a clear message that crime did not pay.

He said the 17-month process from arrest to conviction reflected the command’s determination to pursue prosecutions to their conclusion.

Hadejia commended the trial judge, the investigative team and the prosecuting counsel for their diligence and resilience.

He said the command would sustain operations against terrorism, illegal arms proliferation and economic sabotage, urging residents to report suspicious movements.