Court Jails Mother, Sister of Notorious Bandit Leader Battujo for 20 Years Each
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced the mother and sister of slain terrorist kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo to 20 years imprisonment each for aiding his activities and concealing information that could have led to his arrest.
The convicts, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, were sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to terrorism-related charges brought against them by the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Delivering judgment, Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa convicted the two women on Counts 2, 4 and 5 of a five-count charge bordering on aiding terrorism and withholding information about the activities of the notorious bandit leader.
According to court documents, Salihu and Abdullahi maintained communication with Battujo and passed information to him through telephone conversations despite knowing he was a wanted terrorist commander. Prosecutors also told the court that the women failed to disclose critical information that could have assisted security agencies in apprehending him.
Battujo, one of Nigeria’s most wanted bandit leaders operating across the North-West and North-Central regions, was killed by security forces on June 10, 2026, during an operation in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The prosecution stated that the women aided and abetted the activities of the terrorist kingpin by relaying information to him through phone calls, an offence punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Safiya Salihu was separately convicted for concealing information about Battujo’s possession of firearms after visiting his forest hideout and seeing weapons in his custody. The court heard that she failed to report the information to security authorities despite knowing it could facilitate his arrest.
Similarly, Halima Abdullahi was found guilty of withholding information regarding Battujo’s activities and whereabouts.
However, the court struck out two other charges relating to the alleged receipt of N490,300 from Battujo and sponsorship for the Hajj pilgrimage using funds suspected to be proceeds of terrorism. Director of Public Prosecutions, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, had urged the court to discontinue those counts and proceed with convictions on the charges to which the defendants had pleaded guilty.
Justice Yilwa subsequently sentenced both women to 20 years imprisonment on each count, ordering that the sentences run concurrently. The ruling means each convict will serve 20 years in prison.
The court also directed that the women undergo rehabilitation after completing their prison terms.
The charges were filed under Sections 16, 21 and 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, covering offences related to concealing information, receiving proceeds of terrorism and aiding terrorist activities.
