Twelve individuals received death sentences via hanging following their convictions for terrorism, kidnapping, and related security offenses. These judicial outcomes were secured by the Department of State Security (DSS) through various federal and state high courts throughout Nigeria between May and June 2026.
Among those condemned to death were four men involved in the 2022 St. Francis Catholic Church attack in Owo. Idris Omeiza, Alqasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris were found guilty of terrorism and conspiracy. Other individuals, such as Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar in Ekiti State, faced the death penalty for murder and kidnapping charges. Additionally, Jibrin Halilu in Kogi State and Hauwa’u Mukhtar in Katsina State were sentenced to death for kidnapping and aiding terrorist activities, respectively. The Sokoto State High Court also issued capital punishment for Yusuf Muhammad, Jabbi Alhaji Yalle, and Kabiru A. Maradun due to their roles in arms trafficking and conspiracy.
These legal proceedings addressed a wide array of charges, including support for Boko Haram, ISWAP, and IPOB. Beyond the death sentences, numerous other defendants received prison terms ranging from two years to life imprisonment for crimes such as terrorism financing and gun running. Abdullahi Mohammed Mustapha was also among those sentenced to death during recent mass trials.
