Three men get death sentence for kidnapping priests in Adamawa

An Adamawa State High Court has sentenced three men to death for kidnapping two Catholic priests in February 2025.

Justice Christopher Mapeo announced the decision on Thursday. He convicted Taledo Demiel, Namomai Medan, and Mikaila Yusuf for the abduction of Reverend Fathers Matthew Dutsemi and Abraham Sauman.

The court found the three guilty of several crimes. These include criminal conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, harbouring a kidnapped person, and negotiating to receive ransom for the priests’ release.

The priests were taken from their home in Gwaida-Malam, Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State, in the early hours of 22 February 2025.

The police confirmed the kidnapping at that time. They stated that the state Commissioner of Police ordered security operatives to rescue the priests and catch the kidnappers.

The State Security Service (SSS) mentioned that this judgement brings the total number of death sentences secured by the service to seven in 2026.

According to reports from the SSS, this latest judgement comes after several other capital convictions in different states this year. These cases involve kidnapping, terrorism, and other serious crimes.

On 20 May, an Ekiti State High Court sentenced Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar to death for kidnapping.

On 3 June, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men to death by hanging for their part in the June 2022 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. This attack killed many worshippers.

A Katsina State High Court sentenced Hauwa’u Mukhtar to death on 15 June. The next day, a Kogi State High Court sentenced Jibrin Halilu to death for kidnapping and killing his neighbour.

On 22 June, a Sokoto State High Court sentenced three men, Muhammed Yusuf Sallau, Jabbi Ahlaji Yale, and Kabiru Muhammed, to death for terrorism-related offences and transporting arms.

On 28 September, another Sokoto State High Court sentenced Ibrahim Usman, also known as Dan Iyali, to death for his role in the killing of three kidnapped persons.

The Adamawa judgement adds to the rising number of capital convictions in Nigeria as security agencies keep pursuing prosecutions for kidnapping and other violent crimes.