Woman sentenced to death for aiding terrorists in Katsina

A federal high court sitting in Katsina state has sentenced Hauwa’u Mukhtar, a woman to death by hanging after convicting her on terrorism-related charges.

The court found Mukhtar guilty of conspiring to support terrorist activities and providing assistance to armed bandits operating in the region.

According to details presented during the trial, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested the convict on September 16, 2023, at Jibia Motor Park while she was allegedly transporting ammunition intended for a notorious bandit leader.

Following her arrest, the DSS filed charges against her, accusing her of involvement in activities that aided terrorism and threatened public security.

Delivering judgment, Justice A.B. Bawale ruled that the prosecution successfully established its case beyond reasonable doubt. The judge noted that witness testimonies, documentary evidence and exhibits tendered before the court clearly linked the defendant to the offences.

Based on the findings, the court convicted Mukhtar on both counts and imposed the death penalty in accordance with the provisions of the Katsina State Penal Code Law, 2021.

The ruling adds to a series of recent convictions secured in terrorism-related cases across the country as authorities intensify efforts to combat insecurity and dismantle criminal networks.

The judgment comes shortly after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men to death over their involvement in the June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State. The attack left more than 40 worshippers dead and sparked nationwide outrage.

Security agencies have continued to stress the importance of intelligence gathering and prosecution in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes threatening communities across Nigeria.