Justice Hawa Joseph Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Halima Abdullahi and Safiya Salihu to 40 years’ imprisonment each for aiding and abetting terrorism and concealing information about the activities of their relative, Battujo, a suspected bandit kingpin. The two women, from Dungun Mu’aza in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, pleaded guilty to multiple charges under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Their sentences were ordered to run concurrently, meaning they will serve 20 years in prison each, effective from their arrest in February 2026.
Halima Abdullahi admitted to aiding Battujo by passing information to him through telephone conversations, an offence punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism Act. She also confessed to concealing information about her son’s criminal activities, which the federal government argued could have helped security agencies apprehend him. This charge falls under Section 16 of the same law. The court found her guilty on both counts and initially sentenced her to 20 years for each, totaling 40 years.
Safiya Salihu, described as Battujo’s blood sister, also pleaded guilty to the same two charges. She admitted to receiving funds from Battujo, which she knew were proceeds of terrorism, and to providing him with information via phone calls. Additionally, she confessed to visiting his forest camp and seeing him in possession of firearms, yet failed to report this to authorities. Her actions were deemed a direct violation of Section 16 of the Terrorism Act.
The Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, withdrew three other charges against the women after they pleaded not guilty. These included receiving N490,300 from Battujo and receiving sponsorship for Hajj pilgrimage from terrorism-related funds, both under Section 21 of the Act. The judge struck out these charges following the prosecution’s withdrawal.
The case was handled with consideration for the defendants’ circumstances. Their lawyer, Dauda Hassan of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, urged leniency, citing their status as first-time offenders and their ages. Justice Yilwa accepted the plea and ordered the sentences to run concurrently, reducing the effective prison term to 20 years for each.
This landmark ruling sends a strong message about the legal consequences of supporting or concealing information about terrorism and banditry in Nigeria. It underscores the government’s commitment to prosecuting not only direct perpetrators but also those who enable or assist them. The case is expected to influence future prosecutions under the Terrorism Act, particularly in northern states where banditry remains a security challenge.
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