KATSINA, Nigeria — The Federal High Court sitting in Katsina State has sentenced a woman to death by hanging after finding her guilty of terrorism-related offences involving the transportation of ammunition to a suspected bandit leader.
The convict, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, was prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) on charges bordering on conspiracy, aiding and abetting terrorism. According to security sources, she was arrested on September 16, 2023, at Jibia Motor Park in Katsina State while allegedly attempting to transport 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to a suspected bandit kingpin identified as Ado, who was said to be operating from the Dunburum Forest area of Zamfara State.
Okay News reports that the case was heard before Justice A. B. Bawale of High Court No. 3 in Katsina. After reviewing evidence presented by the prosecution, witness testimonies and exhibits tendered during the trial, the court ruled that the charges had been proven beyond reasonable doubt and found the defendant guilty on both counts.
The judge subsequently imposed the death penalty in line with the provisions of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State, 2021. The conviction marks the second death sentence secured by the DSS this month in terrorism-related cases.
The development comes weeks after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men to death by hanging for their involvement in the June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. The DSS also recently secured the conviction of another female suspect, Halima Haliru Umar, who was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment over the unlawful possession of 302 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and attempting to support terrorist activities.
Security officials described the latest judgment as a significant outcome in ongoing efforts to disrupt arms supply networks linked to terrorism and banditry across the country.
