Terrorism: Court sentences female arms courier arrested by DSS to death

A Federal High Court sitting in Katsina State has sentenced a female arms courier, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, to death by hanging after finding her guilty of conspiracy to commit, aid and abet terrorism.

The conviction followed a successful prosecution by the Department of State Services, DSS, making it the second death sentence secured by the agency in June.

A post shared on X by security analyst, Zagazola Makama, said Mukhtar was arrested by DSS operatives on September 16, 2023, at Jibia Motor Park in Katsina State while attempting to transport 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition to Ado, a notorious bandit kingpin operating in the Dunburum Forest area of Zamfara State.

Security sources told Makama that the DSS subsequently arraigned the suspect on a two-count charge before High Court No. 3 in Katsina, presided over by Justice A. B. Bawale.

The court, after reviewing the evidence presented, including witness testimonies, exhibits tendered before it and the final arguments of both the prosecution and defence teams, held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge found Mukhtar guilty on both counts and sentenced her to death by hanging in line with the provisions of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State, 2021.

The latest conviction comes barely days after another terrorism-related judgment secured by the DSS.

On June 3, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men arrested by the DSS to death by hanging over their involvement in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which claimed more than 40 lives.

Reacting to the judgment, a security source described the outcome as a major achievement for the DSS.

“The successful prosecution is a significant milestone for the DSS, demonstrating its capacity to not only intercept criminal actors but to follow through with decisive legal action that results in landmark convictions,” the source stated.

About a month ago, a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted and sentenced one Halima Haliru Umar to 20 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition and attempting to provide support for acts of terrorism.