Court sentences female arms courier, arrested by DSS, to death by hanging

A Federal High Court in Katsina State has sentenced a female arms courier to death by hanging after the Department of State Services (DSS) successfully prosecuted her for conspiracy to commit, aid and abet terrorism. This is the second death sentence secured by the DSS in June.

The convict, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, was apprehended by the DSS on 16 September 2023 at Jibia Motor Park in Katsina State while trying to transport 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to Ado, a notorious bandit kingpin who operates in Dunburum Forest, Zamfara State.

Security officials reported that the DSS filed a two‑count charge against Hauwa’u Mukhtar before High Court No. 3 in Katsina, which was presided over by Justice A. B. Bawale.

After reviewing all evidence, witness statements, exhibits and the final arguments of the prosecution and defence, the court found that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, convicting Mukhtar on both counts.

The judge then imposed a death sentence by hanging in accordance with the Penal Code Law of Katsina State, 2021.

A source described the successful prosecution as a significant milestone for the DSS.

“The successful prosecution is a significant milestone for the DSS, demonstrating its capacity to not only intercept criminal actors but to follow through with decisive legal action that results in landmark convictions,” the source said.

The conviction follows only two weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja on 3 June sentenced four men arrested by the DSS to death by hanging for their roles in the 5 June 2022 terror attack on St Francis Catholic in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed more than 40 lives.

About a month earlier, a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted and sentenced Halima Haliru Umar to 20 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of 302 rounds of AK‑47 live ammunition and for attempting to support acts of terrorism, marking the second conviction of a female arms courier secured by the DSS this year.