Court jails terror kingpin Battujo’s mother, sister for aiding terrorism

By James Ike

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday convicted and sentenced two female relatives of slain terrorist kingpin, Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, to prison for aiding terrorism-related activities.

Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa sentenced Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, identified as Battujo’s mother and sister respectively, after they pleaded guilty to multiple counts in a five-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

Battujo 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.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had arrested the two women over their alleged links to the activities of the late bandit leader.

The court convicted both women on Count Two, which accused them of aiding and abetting Battujo’s activities by passing information to him through telephone conversations.

According to the charge, the offence contravenes Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In addition, one of the convicts was found guilty of concealing information about Battujo’s activities, while the other was convicted for failing to report knowledge of firearms allegedly in the terrorist’s possession during a visit to his forest camp.

The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Oyedepo Rotimi (SAN), withdrew Counts One and Three, which alleged that the women received N490,300 from Battujo and undertook a sponsored Hajj pilgrimage using proceeds of terrorism.

Rotimi urged the court to strike out the two counts and convict the defendants on the remaining charges to which they had pleaded guilty.

Justice Yilwa subsequently sentenced the women to 20 years imprisonment on each count. However, the court ordered that the sentences should run concurrently, meaning each convict will serve a maximum of 20 years in prison.

The judge also directed that both women should undergo rehabilitation after serving their jail terms.

The case was prosecuted under provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which criminalises providing support to terrorist groups, concealing information capable of aiding security agencies, and handling proceeds derived from terrorism.