The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced five men to 25 years imprisonment each for their roles in supporting terrorists linked to the November 2025 attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church in Papiri, Niger State.
Justice Binta Nyako handed down the sentence on Thursday after the defendants pleaded guilty to four terrorism-related charges brought against them by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The convicts — Yusuf Muhammad (also known as Bature), Goni Ibrahim Bindi (Goni Mutuwa), Sani Tukur (Danladi), Mubarak Ibrahim and Musa Alhaji Adamu (Gado Banufe) — were arrested by DSS operatives on May 31, 2026. Two of the five are citizens of the Republic of Niger.
The charges included conspiracy to support terrorism, providing material support to terrorists, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, and failure to disclose information about a known terrorist.
According to court documents, the men conspired to transport 15 AK-103 rifles and 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from the Diffa region of Niger Republic to a suspected Boko Haram member identified as Malam Ahmad, who was allegedly operating in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Prosecutors said the weapons were concealed in sacks of dried fish and transported in a Volkswagen Golf car bearing Nigerien registration number BT 9990 DA. During one of the arrests, DSS operatives recovered the rifles and ammunition, which were later tendered as exhibits in court.
Justice Nyako also ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle used in conveying the weapons to the Federal Government.
The convictions are linked to investigations into the November 21, 2025 attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church and its adjoining boarding schools in Papiri. Armed men reportedly stormed the school complex in the early hours of the day, abducting more than 250 students and teachers after overrunning the premises. While dozens of pupils escaped during the attack, many victims were taken into the Kainji Lake Reserve Forest.
COUNT 1 of the charge read:
That you, Yusuf Muhammad (a.k.a. Bature), adult, male, thirty-three (33) years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA, Niger State, Goni Ibrahim Bindi (a.k.a. Goni Mutua), adult, male, twenty-three (23) years old of Awadiri, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Sani Tukur (a.k.a. Danladi), adult, male, twenty five 25) years old of Sansani Displaced Persons Camp, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Mubarak Ibrahim, adult, male twenty eight (28) years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA of Niger State, and Musa Alhaji Adamu (a.k.a Gado Banufe) between 23d and 24th April, 2026 did commit an offence, to wit: jointly conspired to render assistance to a terrorist by agreeing and intentionally playing various roles towards conveying fifteen (15) AK 103 rifles as well as about one thousand, four hundred and thirty-four (1,434) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from Diffa region, Republic of Niger to one Malam Ahmad, a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group based in Borgu LGA of Niger State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 2:
That you, Yusuf Muhammad (a.k.a. Bature), adult, male, thirty-three (33) years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA, Niger State, Goni Ibrahim Bindi (a.k.a.
Goni Mutua), adult, male, twenty-three (23) years old of Awadiri, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Sani Tukur (a.k.a. Danladi), adult, male, twenty five 25) years old of Sansani Displaced Persons Camp, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Mubarak Ibrahim, adult, male twenty eight (28) years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA of Niger State, and Musa Alhaji Adamu (a.k.a Gado Banufe) between 23rd and 24th April, 2026 did commit an offence, to wit: rendered support for commission of act of terrorism to a terrorist by agreeing and conveying fifteen (15) AK 103 rifles as well as about one thousand, four hundred and thirty-four (1,434) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from Diffa region, Republic of Niger on behalf of one Malam Ahmad, a member of the Boko Haram terrorist group based in Borgu LGA of Niger State. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
COUNT 3:
That you, Goni Ibrahim Bindi (a.k.a. Goni Mutuwa), adult, male, twenty-three (23) years old of Awadiri, Diffa region, Republic of Niger, Sani Tukur (a.k.a. Danladi), adult, male, twenty five (25 years old of Sansani Displaced Persons Camp, Diffa region, Republic of Niger and Musa Alhaji Adamu (a.k.a Gado Banufe), sometime between 23° and 24t April, 2026 at Kwangila area, along Kano-Kaduna express, Zaria; within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an offence, to wit: you had in your possession fifteen (15) AK 103 rifles and about one thousand, four hundred and thirty-four (1,434) rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition carefully concealed in sacks containing dried fish loaded in a blue Volkswagen (golf 3) car with Republic of Niger registered plate number BT 9990 DA. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(1) (a) (i), and (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28 LFN, 2004.
COUNT 4
That you, Yusuf Muhammad (a.K.a, Bature), adult, male, thirty-three (33) years old of Gofanti village, Borgu LGA, Niger State, sometimes between February 2025 and April, 2026 did commit an offence, to wit: you had information which you know or believed to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of Malam Ahmad, a known terrorist hibernating in Gandu forest, Borgu LGA of Niger State, and you failed to disclose such information to law enforcement or security officers.
You thereby committed an offence in contravention of Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The case was concluded less than two weeks after the suspects were arrested, making it one of the swiftest terrorism prosecutions in recent Nigerian history following their guilty pleas.
