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Twelve people have been sentenced to death by hanging after being convicted in terrorism, kidnapping and other security-related cases prosecuted by the Department of State Security (DSS).
According to court documents reviewed, the convictions were handed down by federal and state high courts across Nigeria between May and June 2026. Other defendants received prison sentences ranging from two years to life imprisonment.
Among those sentenced to death were four men convicted over the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. On June 3, the Federal High Court sentenced Idris Omeiza, Alqasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik and Abdulhaleem Idris to death by hanging after finding them guilty of terrorism, membership of a terrorist group and conspiracy.
Others sentenced to death include Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar, who were convicted by the Ekiti State High Court of conspiracy to murder, murder and kidnapping.
The Kogi State High Court sentenced Jibrin Halilu to death after convicting him of conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping, which led to the killing of Andrew Offo.
In Katsina State, Hauwa’u Mukhtar was sentenced to death for conspiracy and for aiding terrorism by supplying ammunition to a bandit leader.
The Sokoto State High Court also handed death sentences to Yusuf Muhammad (aka Salau), Jabbi Alhaji Yalle and Kabiru A. Maradun after convicting them of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism, arms trafficking and proliferation.”
The DSS said the cases involved offences including terrorism, membership of Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as well as supporting terrorist organisations, gun running, concealing information and terrorism financing.
The report also stated that Abdullahi Mohammed Mustapha was sentenced to death during the mass terrorism trials held between June 15 and 18 after being convicted on terrorism charges.
Several other defendants were convicted of belonging to Boko Haram or ISWAP, while others were found guilty of providing material support to terrorist groups, participating in terrorist activities, gun running or concealing information.
12 convicted, sentenced to death over terrorism, kidnapping cases in Nigeria
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