The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced five individuals to 25 years imprisonment each for their roles in the attack on St. Joseph Catholic Church School in Papiri, Niger State.
The convicts were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on May 31, 2026, for allegedly aiding the November 21, 2025, attack on the school.
In a swift conclusion to the terrorism case, Justice Binta Nyako delivered the judgment shortly after the defendants, including two citizens of Niger Republic, pleaded guilty to all four terrorism-related charges brought against them.
The charges involved providing support for terrorist activities in violation of Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as offences under the Firearms Act.
The convicted persons were identified as Yusuf Mohammed, 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.
According to the prosecution, DSS operatives apprehended the suspects at different locations less than two weeks ago. During one of the operations, security personnel recovered 15 AK-47 rifles and 1,434 rounds of live ammunition concealed in sacks inside a Volkswagen Golf vehicle.
The recovered weapons and ammunition were presented as exhibits before the court.
Justice Nyako also ordered the forfeiture of the Volkswagen Golf used in the operation to the Federal Government.
