Court Jails Mother, Sister of Slain Terror Kingpin Battujo for 40 Years Over Terrorism Offences

ABUJA – The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two women linked to slain terrorist kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo to 40 years' imprisonment each after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences.

The convicts, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi—the mother and sister of Battujo respectively—were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) over their involvement in supporting the activities of the notorious terrorist leader.

Battujo was killed by Nigerian security forces during an operation on June 10, 2026, in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa convicted both women after they pleaded guilty to Counts 2, 4 and 5 of a five-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

The court struck out Counts 1 and 3 following an application by the Director of Public Prosecution, Oyedepo Rotimi (SAN). Those counts alleged that the women received N490,300 from Battujo, knowing it was proceeds of terrorism, and accepted sponsorship for the Hajj pilgrimage using funds linked to terrorist activities.

According to the charge, the two women aided and abetted Battujo's operations by passing information to him through telephone conversations, an offence punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Safiya Salihu was also convicted for concealing information about her son's terrorist activities, while Halima Abdullahi was found guilty of withholding information after allegedly seeing illegal firearms during a visit to Battujo's forest camp and failing to report the matter to security authorities.

Although each offence carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, Justice Yilwa ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning each convict will serve a total of 20 years in prison rather than 40 years consecutively.

The court also directed that both women undergo rehabilitation after serving their prison terms.