Police Secure Convictions Of 19 Suspects For Terrorism, Others

Kebbi State Police Command has secured the convictions of 19 suspects for terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and vandalism in the state.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi.

He said the convictions followed 17 months of painstaking investigations and diligent prosecution at the Federal High Court in Birnin Kebbi.

The police said the judgments, delivered by Justice Emmanuel Gakko, brought to a close legal proceedings arising from intelligence-led operations conducted in Yauri, Bagudo, Sakaba and other security flashpoints across the state.

The command identified two of the suspects as Aliyu Hadari and Umar Musa Uzzi, who were described as suspected terrorist kingpins.

They were convicted on three counts of terrorism, providing logistical support to an armed terrorist group and conspiracy to commit terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The statement said the two suspects were arrested along Yauri Road while travelling in a vehicle allegedly acquired specifically to transport kidnap victims to their hideout.

They were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment, while the court ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle and a motorcycle to the Federal Government, having established that they were instruments and proceeds of terrorism.

Similarly, the command secured the convictions of 11 other suspects for unlawful possession of firearms. Eleven firearms were recovered in connection with the cases, including locally fabricated pistols, a locally made Beretta pistol and dane guns.

The suspects included a Chinese national, Mr Ripin Liu, who was arrested with a locally made Beretta pistol and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment.

Muhammad Bello Ibrahim, alias Banki, was sentenced to four years, while Abubakar Siddi was sentenced to three years.

Muhammed Bako, Bello Dantiye, Aliyu Dandaula, Abubakar Usman and Buba Alhaji Umaru were also sentenced to three years’ imprisonment each.

Others were John Zweme, who received two years and six months; Aliyu Bako and Sani Alaramma, who were each sentenced to two years.

The statement also listed six other suspects described as economic saboteurs: Sani Tanko, Ibrahim Hamza, Samson Sunday, Abdulrahman Isah, Adamu Musa and Mas’udu. However, the statement did not clearly specify the individual sentences imposed on them.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Umar Muhammed Hajejia, said the 17-month period from arrest to conviction demonstrated the command’s determination not to abandon complex cases and to pursue prosecutions to their logical conclusion. He commended the presiding judge and the prosecution team for their diligence.