Bandit kingpin’s mother and sister receive 40‑year prison sentences for terrorism.

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced the mother and sister of the late bandit kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo to forty years in prison each on Friday.

Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi were found guilty of passing information to Battujo via telephone conversations that aided his terrorist activities, an offence punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Hauwa Yilwa, also convicted the two women for concealing information by failing to report Battujo’s activities to law enforcement or security agents as soon as reasonably practicable, thereby hindering his apprehension.

It was established that they had visited Battujo’s forest camp, witnessed him in possession of firearms, but did not disclose this to security agencies.

Justice Yilwa handed down the sentences after the defendants pleaded guilty to counts 2, 4, and 5 of a five‑count terrorism‑related charge brought by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

The court discharged them on counts 1 and 3, which alleged that they had received ₦490,300 from Battujo while knowing the funds were proceeds of terrorism.

They were also discharged on the allegation that they had received sponsorship from the bandit leader to travel for the Hajj pilgrimage.

The prosecution argued that the convicts should have known the pilgrimage funds were terrorism proceeds, making the offence punishable under Section 21 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Director of Public Prosecution Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, had applied to strike out the two counts and urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants on the remaining three counts.

Battujo was killed by security forces on 10 June 2026 in a forest near Iluke in the Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Some of the charges against the convicts read:

“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 Honourable Court, did commit an offence when you aided and abetted the activities of Battujo, a known bandit kingpin, by passing information through telephone conversations to the said Battujo, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

“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 Honourable Court, did commit an offence when you concealed information about the activities of Battujo, a known bandit kingpin, having visited his forest camp and seen him in possession of firearms — information 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, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

“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 Honourable Court, did commit an offence when you concealed information about the activities of Battujo, a suspected bandit kingpin — information 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, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

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