A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday sentenced two women to 40 years in prison each for terrorism-related offences.
The women, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, are mother and sister of slain terrorist kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo. Battujo was killed by Nigerian security forces on June 10, 2026, in a forest near Iluke, Kabba/Bunu LGA, Kogi State.
The Department of State Services, DSS, arrested both women.
Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa jailed them after they pleaded guilty to counts 2, 4, and 5 of a five-count charge filed by the Attorney General’s office.
The duo were acquitted on Counts 1 and 3. Both counts were for collecting N490,300 from Battujo and sponsoring pilgrimage with money they knew came from terrorism.
The Director of Public Prosecution, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, urged the court to strike out both counts, but convict them on the others.
According to Count 2, both women
“aided and abetted the activities of Battujo, a known bandit Kingpin and passed information through telephone conversations to the said Battujo, and thereby committed anoffence contrary to and punishable under section 26 of the terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Battujo’s mother pleaded guilty to Count 5 which bordered on concealment of information on the terrorism activities of her son.
On her part, Halima, who is sister of the eliminated terrorist kingpin, in addition to pleading guilty to Count 2, also pleaded guilty to Count 4 which also bordered on concealment of information that her brother illegally acquired firearms which she saw when she visited his forest camp.
Each count carries 20 years. But Justice Yilwa ordered the sentences to run at the same time, 40 years total. The women will go for rehabilitation after jail.
The Counts are:
- That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult,of Dungun Muaza Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at
Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit an offence, when you received the sum of four hundred and ninety,
thousand, three hundred Naira only (N490,300) from Battujo a known terrorist, which sum you reasonably ought to know formed part of the proceeds of Terrorism, and thereby committed an offence
contrary to and punishable under the section 21 of the
Terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count 2:
That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult,of Dungun Muaza Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit an offence, when you aided and abetted the activities of Battujo a known bandit Kingpin and passed information through telephone
conversations to the said Battujo, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 26 of the terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count 3:
That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult, of Dungun Mu’aza Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit an offence when you received sponsorship to travel for Hajj Pilgrimage from one BATTUJO a known bandit Kingpin from funds you reasonably ought to know formed part of Terrorism, and thereby
committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21
of the terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count 4
That you SAFIYA SALIHU, Female, adult, of Dungun Mu’aza Sabuwa
LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the
jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit an offence concealed information about the activities of Battujo a known bandit Kingpin when you visited his forest camp and saw him in possession of firearms, an information which you knew to be of material assistance in securing his apprehension,but failed to disclose such information to any law enforcement or security officer as soon as reasonably practicable and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the terrorism (Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count 5:
That you HALIMA ABDULLAHI, Female, adult, of Dungun Mu’aza
Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did commit an offence when you concealed information about the activities of Battujo a suspected bandit Kingpin, an information which you knew to be of material assistance in securing his apprehension, but failed to disclose such information to any law enforcement or security officer as soon as reasonably practicable and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the terrorism(Prevention Prohibition) Act, 2022 as amended.
