Twelve people have been sentenced to death by hanging. Many others got long prison sentences in terrorism and kidnapping cases handled by the State Security Service (SSS). Court documents reviewed show the details of these sentences.
The death sentences were given for serious crimes like terrorism, conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, arms trafficking, and helping terrorist groups.
One significant case is the sentence passed on June 3. Idris Omeiza, Alqasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris got death by hanging for the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Many other defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from two years to life imprisonment. These trials took place between June 15 and June 18. Different federal and state high courts delivered the judgments.
The SSS charged the convicted persons with offenses like terrorism, being part of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Other charges included giving support to terrorist organizations, arms trafficking, hiding information, and financing terrorism.
Death Sentences
| Convict | Court/Date | Offense(s) | Sentence |
|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------|
| Ibrahim Abubakar | Ekiti State High Court (20 May 2026) | Conspiracy to murder, murder and kidnapping | Death by hanging |
| Abdullahi Abubakar | Ekiti State High Court (20 May 2026) | Conspiracy to murder, murder and kidnapping | Death by hanging |
| Jibrin Halilu | Kogi State High Court (16 June 2026) | Conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping resulting in the killing of Andrew Offo | Death by hanging |
| Hauwa’u Mukhtar | Katsina State High Court (15 June 2026) | Conspiracy, aiding and abetting terrorism by supplying ammunition to a bandit leader | Death by hanging |
| Yusuf Muhammad (aka Salau) | Sokoto State High Court (22 June 2026) | Criminal conspiracy, terrorism, arms trafficking and proliferation | Death by hanging |
| Jabbi Alhaji Yalle | Sokoto State High Court (22 June 2026) | Criminal conspiracy, terrorism, arms trafficking and proliferation | Death by hanging |
| Kabiru A. Maradun | Sokoto State High Court (22 June 2026) | Criminal conspiracy, terrorism, arms trafficking and proliferation | Death by hanging |
| Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza | Federal High Court (3 June 2026) | Terrorism, membership of a terrorist group, conspiracy and the 2022 Owo church attack | Death by hanging |
| Alqasim Idris | Federal High Court (3 June 2026) | Terrorism, membership of a terrorist group, conspiracy and the 2022 Owo church attack | Death by hanging |
| Jamiu Abdulmalik | Federal High Court (3 June 2026) | Terrorism, membership of a terrorist group, conspiracy and the 2022 Owo church attack | Death by hanging |
| Abdulhaleem Idris | Federal High Court (3 June 2026) | Terrorism, membership of a terrorist group, conspiracy and the 2022 Owo church attack | Death by hanging |
During the mass trials from June 15 to 18, Abdullahi Mohammed Mustapha also got the death sentence after he was found guilty on terrorism charges.
The other convicts received different prison terms based on their crimes. Some were found guilty of being part of Boko Haram or ISWAP. Others were convicted for helping terrorist groups, hiding information, arms trafficking, or engaging in terrorist acts.
Long Prison Terms
The longest sentence from these trials was 50 years for Inuwa Bala due to gun running. Saleh Idris got 45 years for being part of Boko Haram. Rabiu Umar and Ndukwe Iroha Kalu were each given 40 years, but for different reasons. Mr Umar supported terrorists while Mr Kalu was part of IPOB.
Shamsudeen Ibrahim received 35 years for helping terrorists.
Other sentences included:
| Convict | Sentence | Offense |
|-----------------------------|------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Yusuf Sani | 30 years | Terrorism |
| Suleiman Halilu | 25 years | Rendering support to terrorists |
| Usman Musa Yaman | 25 years | Hiding and supporting terrorists |
| Ridwan Onasoga Abiodun | 25 years | Membership of ISWAP |
| Isa Shuaibu | 15 years | Not specified |
| Umar Muhammed | 10 years | Hiding information |
| Umar Bashiru | 20 years | Hiding information |
| Mohammed Shaffi Balarabe Umar | 20 years | Terrorism |
| Alhaji Modu Ibrahim | 20 years | Terrorism |
| Kyari Abubakar | 20 years | Helping terrorists |
| Modu Kurambe | 20 years | Hiding information on ISWAP |
| Babagana Tijani | 20 years | Hiding information |
| Halima Abdullahi | 20 years | Aiding and hiding information |
| Safiya Salihu | 20 years | Aiding and hiding information |
| Aisha Modu Aji | 20 years | Supporting terrorists and hiding information |
| Abdullahi Suleiman | 15 years | Membership of Boko Haram |
| Rukayat Ohunene Ismaila | 5 years | Hiding information |
The court documents also show that some prison sentences started from the date of arrest. Others run at the same time if the convicts faced multiple charges. One defendant, Abel Ugwuoke, got a 20-year sentence for multiple charges and life imprisonment for two other counts.
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