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From Ola Muhammad, Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State Police Command has secured the conviction of 19 persons for terrorism, illegal firearms possession, and vandalism of critical national infrastructure after 17 months of prosecution.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
Usman disclosed that the convictions of the 19 persons were pronounced in a judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Gakko, of the Federal High Court, Birnin Kebbi.
According to him, “the landmark judgement was delivered by Hon. Justice Emmanuel Gakko of the Federal High Court, Birnin Kebbi Judicial Division, bringing to a close a legal battle that began following an intelligence-led operation across Yauri, Bagudo, Sakaba, and other flashpoints.
“In the most significant conviction, two terrorism kingpins, Aliyu Hadari and Umar Musa Uzzi, were found guilty on three counts of terrorism, providing logistics to an armed terrorist group, and conspiracy to commit terrorism, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“The duo were intercepted along Yauri Road while driving a vehicle specially acquired to convey kidnap victims to their forest hideout. They were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment on each count. The court further ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle and a Bajaj motorcycle to the Federal Government, having established them as instruments and proceeds of terrorism.
“In a sweeping victory against illegal arms proliferation, 11 persons were convicted of unlawful possession of firearms, with 11 assorted firearms recovered, including locally fabricated pistols, a locally made Beretta pistol, and dane guns.”
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Usman disclosed that those convicted include Mr Ripin Liu, a Chinese national arrested with a locally made Beretta pistol, who was sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment with an option of a fine; Mohammed Bello Ibrahim (alias Banki), sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine; Abubakar Siddi, sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment without an option of a fine; Mohammed Bako, Bello Dantiye, Aliyu Dandaula, and Abubakar Usman, sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment each without an option of a fine; Buba Alhaji Umaru, who was arrested in Bagudo LGA after crossing from a neighbouring country with a locally fabricated pistol, sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment; John Zweme, sentenced to 2 years and 6 months’ imprisonment with an option of a fine; and Aliyu Bako and Sani Alaramma, sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment each with an option of a fine.
“In the same vein, the Command secured the conviction of 6 economic saboteurs: Sani Tanko, Ibrahim Hamza, Samson Sunday, Abdulrahman Isah, Adamu Musa, and Masudu, for vandalising and stealing electric cables in Sakaba LGA, an act that plunged entire communities into darkness.
“They were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment ranging from 3 to 8 years,” he said.
Reacting to the judgement, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar M. Hadejia, said the convictions would send an unmistakable message to the criminals that crime does not pay.
He noted that the 17-month journey from arrest to conviction reflects the Command’s refusal to abandon complex cases and its determination to see every prosecution through to a logical conclusion.
The Commissioner of Police commended the trial judge for his courage on the bench and praised the investigative team and prosecuting counsel for their diligence and resilience.
He further warned that the Command would sustain its operations against terrorism, illegal arms proliferation, and economic sabotage and called on residents to report suspicious movements and activities of criminals to the Police, assuring them that every credible tip would be acted upon decisively.
