Court Jails Mother, Sister Of Slain Terrorist Kingpin Battujo For 40 Years Over Terrorism Links

Abuja,  Nigeria– A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced the mother and sister of notorious terrorist kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo to 40 years imprisonment for aiding his activities and concealing information that could have led to his arrest.

The two women, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, were convicted on Friday after pleading guilty to terrorism-related charges filed against them by the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa handed down the sentence after the defendants admitted to Counts 2, 4 and 5 of a five-count charge bordering on aiding terrorism and withholding information about the activities of the slain bandit leader.

Battujo, one of the most wanted terrorist commanders operating across North-West and North-Central Nigeria, was killed by Nigerian security forces on June 10, 2026, during an operation in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

According to court documents, the convicts maintained communication with Battujo and passed information to him through telephone conversations, despite knowing he was a notorious bandit kingpin wanted by security agencies.

The prosecution told the court that the women also failed to disclose critical information that could have aided security operatives in apprehending the terrorist leader.

One of the charges stated that the defendants aided and abetted Battujo’s activities 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 additionally convicted for concealing information about Battujo’s possession of firearms after visiting his forest hideout and seeing the weapons in his custody. Prosecutors said she failed to report the information to security authorities despite knowing it could assist in his arrest.

Halima Abdullahi was also found guilty of withholding information regarding the activities and whereabouts of the suspected terrorist kingpin.

The defendants, however, escaped conviction on two other counts relating to the alleged receipt of N490,300 from Battujo and sponsorship for the Hajj pilgrimage using funds believed to be proceeds of terrorism.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, had urged the court to strike out the two counts and proceed with convictions on the remaining charges to which the defendants had already pleaded guilty.

Justice Yilwa subsequently convicted both women and sentenced them to 20 years imprisonment on each count. The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, effectively leaving each convict to serve 20 years in prison.

The judge also directed that the women undergo rehabilitation after serving their prison terms.

The Count 1 read, “That you, HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, female adults of Dungun Mu’aza, Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State, sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence when you received the sum of four hundred and ninety thousand, three hundred naira (N490,300) from Battujo, a known terrorist, which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of terrorism, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“Count 2: That you, HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, female adults of Dungun Mu’aza, Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State, sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence when you aided and abetted the activities of Battujo, a known bandit kingpin, and passed information through telephone conversations to him, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“Count 3:That you, HALIMA ABDULLAHI and SAFIYA SALIHU, female adults of Dungun Mu’aza, Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State, sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence when you received sponsorship to travel for the Hajj pilgrimage from Battujo, a known bandit kingpin, using funds you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of terrorism, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“Count 4: That you, SAFIYA SALIHU, a female adult of Dungun Mu’aza, Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State, sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence by concealing information about the activities of Battujo, a known bandit kingpin, when you visited his forest camp and saw him in possession of firearms. This information, which you knew would be of material assistance in securing his apprehension, was not disclosed to any law enforcement or security officer as soon as reasonably practicable, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“Count 5: That you, HALIMA ABDULLAHI, a female adult of Dungun Mu’aza, Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State, sometime in 2026 at Katsina State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an offence when you concealed information about the activities of Battujo, a suspected bandit kingpin. This information, which you knew would be of material assistance in securing his apprehension, was not disclosed to any law enforcement or security officer as soon as reasonably practicable, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.