A High Court in Sokoto State has sentenced three men, including a Nigerien national, to death by hanging after finding them guilty of terrorism-related offences and illegal arms trafficking.

The convicts; Yusuf Muhammad, also known as Sallau, a citizen of the Republic of Niger, Jabbi Alhaji Yalle, and Kabiru Muhammad, were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) Counter-Terrorism Unit on June 13, 2025, over their alleged involvement in cross-border terrorism and arms proliferation activities.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Muhammad Nuraddeen Bello of High Court No. 23, Sokoto, in suit number SS/45C/2026.

Delivering the verdict, Justice Bello found the three defendants guilty on all counts and sentenced them to death by hanging.

The court also ordered that all monetary exhibits recovered from the convicts be forfeited to the Federal Government.

The court described the conviction as part of ongoing efforts by security agencies and the judiciary to combat terrorism, arms trafficking and organised cross-border criminal networks operating within and around Nigeria.

The latest judgment comes barely two weeks after the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced five terrorism suspects to 25 years imprisonment each following their conviction on terrorism-related charges.

The suspects, including two Nigerien nationals, were arrested by the DSS on May 31, 2026, in connection with the November 21, 2025 attack on St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court handed down the sentences after the defendants pleaded guilty to a four-count charge bordering on terrorism financing, support for terrorist activities and firearms-related offences.

According to court documents, the convicts conspired to facilitate the transportation of 15 AK-103 rifles and about 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from the Diffa Region of the Republic of Niger to a suspected Boko Haram member identified as Malam Ahmad in Borgu, Niger State.

The offences were said to be contrary to provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act.

Security sources said the convictions underscore ongoing efforts by the DSS and other security agencies to dismantle terrorist networks, curb the proliferation of illicit arms and strengthen national security through intelligence-led operations and prosecution of offenders.