Court Sentences 3 To Death For Kidnapping Clerics In Adamawa

A High Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, has convicted and sentenced three persons to death by hanging or lethal injection for kidnapping two priests at Saint Anne Catholic Church, Gweda Mallam, in Numan local government area.

The convicts, who include Taledo Damiel, Namomai Medan and Mikaila Yusuf, were sentenced to death for kidnapping Rev. Fr. Mathew Dutsemi and Rev. Fr. Abraham Sauman at the Parish House of Saint Anne Catholic Church, Gweda Mallam.

The court, headed by Justice Christopher Dominic Mapeo, convicted and sentenced Taledo and two others to 14 years’ imprisonment each, without the option of a fine, for criminal conspiracy to commit kidnapping on count one.

He sentenced them to death by hanging on count two and also sentenced them to life imprisonment on count three for the offences bordering on the kidnapping of the priests.

The Judge sentenced them to 21 years imprisonment each, without option of fine, for the offence of criminal conspiracy to commit robbery while armed with offensive weapons on count (4), and also sentenced them to 21 years imprisonment each for robbery while armed with offensive weapons on count Five (5).

Equally, the court jailed them for 20 years each without the option of a fine for the offence of harbouring a kidnapped person on count Seven (7).

According to the particulars of offences, Taledo and Parishioner at the church and 2 other convicts on or about 21 February 2025 conspired, armed themselves with guns and a knife and invaded the parish house of Saint Anne Catholic Church, Gweda Mallam, in Numan LGA and kidnapped the Parish Priests.

The convicts abducted their victims and detained them in the house of Taledo Damiel for fifteen (15) days before they were rescued by the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

Taledo and other convicts robbed their victims of their valuables such as mobile phones (handsets), wallets, money, ATM cards and negotiated to obtain ransom for the release of the kidnapped persons.

Earlier, on their arraignment on 2 May 2025, on a six-pronged charge bordering on kidnapping and armed robbery contrary to sections 249(1), 248(2), 61(1), 289(2), 251(1) and 251(2) of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018 and 2020 (as amended), all the defendants pleaded not guilty.

In order to establish its case against the defendants, the prosecution, through its Counsel, J. A. Waya Esq (Director Civil Litigation ), Ministry of Justice and D. I. Kulthu (State Counsel I), fielded seven (7) witnesses, including the victims and tendered nineteen (19) exhibits, and the same were admitted in evidence in the absence of any objection from the defence counsel.

On 30 July 2025, the prosecution closed its case, and the defendants opened their defence on 17 December 2025, calling a total of four witnesses: the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd defendants, who testified for themselves as DW1, DW2, and DW3, respectively, and one other called by the 1st convict.

On 23 March 2026, the prosecution filed an application seeking the court’s leave to amend the charges against the defendants.

The said application was granted on 22 April 2026. Consequent upon the amendment, the defendants were re-arraigned on the amended eight (8) counts on the same day, 22 April 2026, wherein all of them pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The defendants, through their Counsel, G. M. O. Ehimikhuai Esq., reopened their case, during which DW1 was recalled and further testified in light of the amended charge dated 19 May 2026. Thereafter, the defendants closed their case and adopted their final written addresses; accordingly, judgment was entered.

Justice Christopher Dominic Mapeo, while delivering judgment, said, “I have nothing to add but to conclude that the offences charged were committed and the defendants did commit them”,

He declared that the court found them guilty as charged and convicted them in accordance with the evidence adduced before the court, together with the exhibits tendered and admitted, in accordance with the extant Penal Code of Adamawa State 2018.