The Federal High Court in Birnin Kebbi has convicted 19 persons for terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and vandalism of electricity cables after 17 months of investigation and prosecution by the Kebbi State Police Command.
Justice Emmanuel Gakko sentenced two men, Aliyu Hadari and Umar Musa Uzzi, to 15 years’ imprisonment on each of three counts relating to terrorism, providing logistics to an armed terrorist group and conspiracy to commit terrorism.
The police said the men were arrested along Yauri Road in a vehicle allegedly acquired to transport kidnap victims to a forest hideout. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle and a Bajaj motorcycle to the Federal Government.
In separate cases, 11 persons were convicted of unlawful possession of firearms. The police said 11 weapons, including locally fabricated pistols, a locally made Beretta pistol and dane guns, were recovered.
A Chinese national, Ripin Liu, received a six-year jail term with an option of a fine. Mohammed Bello Ibrahim, also known as Banki, was sentenced to four years without an option of a fine, while Abubakar Siddi received three years without the option of a fine.
Mohammed Bako, Bello Dantiye, Aliyu Dandaula, Abubakar Usman and Buba Alhaji Umaru were each sentenced to three years without an option of a fine. The police said Umaru was arrested in Bagudo Local Government Area after crossing from a neighbouring country with a locally fabricated pistol.
John Zweme received two years and six months’ imprisonment with an option of a fine, while Aliyu Bako and Sani Alaramma were each sentenced to two years with an option of a fine.
The court also convicted six men — Sani Tanko, Ibrahim Hamza, Samson Sunday, Abdulrahman Isah, Adamu Musa and Masudu — for vandalising and stealing electricity cables in Sakaba Local Government Area. They received prison terms ranging from three to eight years.
The police said the cable theft disrupted electricity supply to affected communities.
Reacting to the judgments, the Commissioner of Police, Umar M. Hadejia, commended the judge, investigators and prosecuting counsel for their efforts.
He said the command would sustain operations against terrorism, illegal firearms and economic sabotage, urging residents to report suspicious activities.
The statement was signed by the command’s spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, on October 14, 2026.
