No Mercy For Terror Convicts: Court Sentences Three To Death In DSS-Prosecuted Case

A High Court in Sokoto State has sentenced three individuals, including a foreign national, to death by hanging after finding them guilty of terrorism-related offences and illegal arms trafficking.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The convicts, who were prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS), are Yusuf Muhammad, also known as Sallau, a citizen of Niger Republic; Jabbi Alhaji Yalle; and Kabiru Muhammad.

According to the DSS, the three men were arrested by its Counter-Terrorism Unit on June 13 over their alleged involvement in cross-border criminal activities linked to terrorism and the proliferation of illegal arms.

The case, designated SS/45C/2026, was heard by Justice Muhammad Nuraddeen Bello of High Court No. 23 in Sokoto.

In his judgment, Justice Bello convicted all three defendants on the charges brought against them and imposed the death penalty by hanging.

The court also ordered that all funds and monetary exhibits recovered during the investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government.

DSS Opposes Foreign Funding of Security Operations

In a separate development, the Department of State Services has expressed concerns over a proposal that would allow foreign organisations to contribute funds to Nigeria’s security operations through a proposed Trust Fund.

The agency warned that such an arrangement could pose risks to national sovereignty, compromise operational secrecy and expose the country’s intelligence framework to external influence.

The DSS made its position known on Thursday during a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives on three proposed pieces of legislation.

The bills under consideration include the Department of State Services Trust Fund Bill (HB.2178), the Strategic Intelligence Management Institute Bill (HB.2589), and the DSS Research and Development Institute Bill (HB.2716).

In its presentation, the DSS described the proposed Trust Fund as an important initiative designed to provide sustainable and dedicated funding for intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism operations and other national security activities.