A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, the mother and sister of slain terrorist kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, to prison after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences.
Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa delivered the judgment on Friday following their arraignment on multiple counts bordering on aiding and abetting terrorism, facilitating communication with a known terrorist leader, and withholding information that could have assisted security agencies in apprehending him.
The prosecution, led by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, told the court that investigations established that the two women maintained regular contact with Battujo while he was actively evading arrest. According to the prosecution, the defendants used telephone communications to pass information to the suspected terrorist leader and knowingly concealed intelligence relating to his whereabouts and activities.
Court documents revealed that the convicts admitted to maintaining communication with Battujo and acknowledged that they failed to disclose critical information that could have aided security agencies in their efforts to dismantle his network.
Justice Yilwa held that the prosecution had established the essential elements of the offences through the defendants’ guilty pleas and supporting evidence presented before the court. The judge subsequently convicted and sentenced both women in accordance with the provisions of Nigeria’s terrorism laws.
Although each of the offences carries significant prison terms, the court ordered that the sentences run concurrently. Legal observers noted that the ruling means the women will serve their prison terms simultaneously rather than consecutively.
During the proceedings, prosecutors withdrew two additional counts alleging that the defendants benefited financially from proceeds linked to terrorism. The charges claimed that the women received ₦490,300 derived from terrorist activities and used the funds to finance a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
Following the prosecution’s application, the court struck out the counts after determining that they would no longer form part of the case against the defendants.
The court further directed that both women undergo rehabilitation programmes upon completion of their prison terms as part of efforts aimed at deradicalisation and reintegration.
The case forms part of a broader crackdown by Nigerian authorities on individuals accused of providing logistical, financial and intelligence support to terrorist groups and armed bandit networks operating across parts of the country. Security agencies have repeatedly emphasised that combating terrorism requires not only targeting armed actors but also dismantling the support structures that enable their operations.
Authorities identified Battujo as one of the most wanted terrorist figures operating within the North-Central region, alleging that he coordinated several violent attacks and kidnapping operations. Security officials linked him to numerous incidents involving attacks on communities, abductions for ransom and the disruption of economic activities in affected areas.
He was also accused of involvement in an attempted mass abduction of students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), an incident that heightened concerns over the growing threat posed by criminal and terrorist groups targeting schools and vulnerable communities.
Battujo was killed on June 10, 2026, during a security operation near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State. According to security authorities, the operation was carried out following intelligence reports on his movements and resulted in the dismantling of key elements of his network.
The conviction of Battujo’s mother and sister underscores the Federal Government’s determination to hold accountable not only those directly involved in terrorist acts but also individuals found to have provided support, assistance or concealment for such activities.
Security experts have consistently argued that disrupting family, financial and communication networks linked to terrorist organisations is critical to weakening their operational capabilities and preventing future attacks.
The judgment is expected to reinforce ongoing counterterrorism efforts and send a strong message that individuals who knowingly assist or shield persons involved in terrorism-related activities could face severe legal consequences under Nigerian law. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.
