Fresh Twist: DSS Rejects Life Jail, Demands Death For Convicted Oyo Kidnappers

The Department of State Services (DSS) has announced plans to appeal the life imprisonment imposed on three men convicted over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, insisting that the punishment is inadequate.

The security agency argued that the offences committed, particularly the alleged beheading of two teachers by members of the terrorist group linked to the kidnapping, warranted the death penalty.

Those convicted are Abdulrazak Umar, also known as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, also known as Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, also known as Abu Itisar.

The DSS said it would challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, maintaining that the gravity of the crimes deserved a stiffer sentence.

The decision follows Thursday’s ruling by Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who sentenced the three defendants to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences.

The convicts admitted to belonging to Darul Salam, a group identified as an affiliate of the Ansaru terrorist organisation, and to concealing information relating to the kidnapping of the victims.

They also pleaded guilty to offences involving the promotion and incitement of terrorism through religious ideology.

Umar, however, entered guilty pleas to additional counts, including receiving terrorist training, transmitting operational instructions and encouraging members of the group through extremist religious teachings.

The three men were prosecuted by the DSS on a 10-count charge bordering on terrorism, kidnapping, concealment of information and related offences under Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

DSS Seeks Death Penalty

Explaining its decision to appeal, the DSS argued that the alleged killing of two teachers by members of the terrorist network amounted to a capital offence punishable by death under Nigerian law.

According to the agency, the life sentences handed down by the court do not adequately reflect the seriousness of the crimes committed.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants, all natives of Niger State, deliberately withheld intelligence on terrorist activities, participated in kidnapping operations and used digital communication platforms to recruit and train members of the terrorist organisation.

Following their guilty pleas, Justice Ibrahim sentenced all three defendants to life imprisonment on one of the terrorism counts, while Umar received additional life sentences on three other counts.

The DSS has now indicated that it will pursue an appeal in a bid to secure harsher penalties for the convicts.

The development comes shortly after another Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced two senior Ansaru commanders—Mahmud Muhammad Usman, popularly known as Abu Bara’a, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Mallam Mamuda—to life imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.