A High Court in Kogi State has sentenced Jibrin Halilu to death for the kidnapping and murder of his neighbour, Uche Andrew Offo, in a case prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS). The sentencing, delivered on Tuesday by Justice Abdul Nicodemus Awulu, follows a trial that established Halilu’s guilt under Sections 12, 6(1), and 4(3)(a) of the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences Prohibition Law, 2023. This development comes just one day after a Katsina State High Court handed down a similar death sentence to a female arms courier also arrested by the DSS, highlighting a growing judicial response to violent crimes across Nigeria.
The prosecution revealed that on March 23, 2023, Halilu and members of his armed gang stormed the Everready Hotel in Angwa-Tiv, Obajana town, where they abducted Offo, the hotel’s proprietor. Despite the family paying the demanded N2.5 million ransom, the abductors proceeded to kill Offo, demonstrating a blatant disregard for human life and the rule of law. The DSS operatives apprehended Halilu on December 4, 2025, after an extensive investigation that uncovered his direct involvement in the crime.
In a separate but related development, the same Kogi State High Court sentenced four other individuals—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris—to death by hanging for their roles in a deadly attack that killed over 40 worshippers and injured more than 100 others. The court’s decision underscores the severity with which the judiciary is treating acts of violence and terrorism, especially when they target innocent civilians during religious gatherings.
These recent convictions in Kogi and Katsina states echo a landmark ruling from June 3, 2026, when a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men to death for their involvement in the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. That case, which drew national attention, set a precedent for the prosecution of violent extremists and underscored the government’s commitment to justice for victims of terrorism.
The consistent application of the death penalty in these cases signals a firm stance by Nigerian courts against kidnapping, murder, and terrorism. As security challenges persist across the country, these rulings may serve as a deterrent to potential offenders and a source of comfort to victims’ families. The judiciary’s role in upholding justice remains critical in restoring public confidence in the rule of law.
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