The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced five men, including two citizens of the Republic of Niger, to 25 years imprisonment each for their involvement in terrorism-related activities linked to the November 2025 attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church and its boarding school in Papiri, Niger State.
Justice Binta Nyako handed down the sentence on Thursday after the defendants pleaded guilty to a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, support for terrorism, unlawful possession of firearms, and failure to disclose information about a known terrorist. The case, prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS), was concluded shortly after the defendants admitted guilt to all charges.
The convicts — Yusuf Muhammad, also known as Bature; Goni Ibrahim Bindi, also known as Goni Mutuwa; Sani Tukur, also known as Danladi; Mubarak Ibrahim; and Musa Alhaji Adamu, also known as Gado Banufe — were arrested by DSS operatives on May 31, 2026, at different locations.
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 the Niger Republic to a suspected Boko Haram member identified as Malam Ahmad, who was said to be operating in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendants knowingly rendered support to a terrorist by facilitating the movement of the weapons and ammunition. Three of the convicts were also charged with unlawful possession of the arms, which investigators said were concealed in sacks of dried fish loaded into a blue Volkswagen Golf bearing a Niger Republic registration number BT 9990 DA.
During one of the operations that led to their arrest, DSS operatives recovered the weapons and ammunition from the vehicle. The firearms and ammunition were tendered as exhibits during the trial, while the court ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle to the Federal Government.
The court also found Yusuf Muhammad guilty of withholding information about the whereabouts and activities of the suspected terrorist, despite allegedly possessing knowledge that could have aided law enforcement authorities in his arrest and prosecution.
The convictions stem from investigations into the November 21, 2025 attack on the Catholic Primary and Secondary Boarding School in Papiri, where dozens of heavily gunmen riding motorcycles invaded the institution in the early hours of the day. The attackers reportedly rounded up students and teachers at gunpoint, while more than 250 students were marched into the Kainji Lake Reserve Forest. Although about 50 students managed to escape during the chaos, the incident triggered national outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity in parts of the country.
The DSS said the successful prosecution was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and cut off logistical support channels supplying weapons and ammunition to insurgent groups operating in Nigeria.
