Kebbi Police Secure Conviction Of 19 Suspects For Terrorism, Arms Offences

The Kebbi State Police Command has secured the conviction of 19 suspects for terrorism, unlawful possession of firearms and other offences following 17 months of investigation and prosecution.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi.

According to the statement, the convictions were secured at the Federal High Court in Birnin Kebbi, where Justice Emmanuel Gakko delivered the judgments, bringing to a close legal proceedings that followed intelligence-led operations across Yauri, Bagudo, Sakaba and other flashpoints in the state.

The Command identified Aliyu Hadari and Umar Musa Uzzi as suspected terrorist kingpins who were convicted on three counts bordering on terrorism, providing logistics to an armed terrorist group and conspiracy to commit terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The two suspects were reportedly arrested along Yauri Road while travelling in a vehicle allegedly acquired 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 after they were established as instruments and proceeds of terrorism.

The Command also secured the conviction 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 convicted 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, also known as Banki, was sentenced to four years, while Abubakar Siddi received a three-year jail term.

Muhammed Bako, Bello Dantiye, Aliyu Dandaula and Abubakar Usman were each sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Buba Alhaji Umaru also received a three-year jail term.

John Zweme was sentenced to two years and six months, while Aliyu Bako and Sani Alaramma received two years each.

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 Kebbi State, CP Umar Muhammed Hajejia, said the 17-month process from arrest to conviction demonstrated the command’s determination to pursue complex cases through to their conclusion.

He commended the judge and the prosecution team for their diligence in handling the cases.