Federal High Court Sentences Female Arms Courier To De∆th By H∆nging In Katsina

Meanwhile, after reviewing the evidence presented by the DSS, the court found the defendant guilty of the charges and imposed the death penalty by hanging.

AFederal 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 terrorism and aiding and abetting terrorist activities.

The conviction followed a successful prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS), which accused Mukhtar of facilitating the supply of ammunition to armed bandits operating in Nigeria’s North-West region.

According to court proceedings, 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 one Ado, a suspected bandit kingpin said to be operating from the notorious Dunburum Forest in neighbouring Zamfara State.

The prosecution told the court that investigations linked the ammunition consignment to terrorist and bandit networks responsible for violent attacks, kidnappings and other criminal activities across the region.

Meanwhile, after reviewing the evidence presented by the DSS, the court found the defendant guilty of the charges and imposed the death penalty by hanging.

SaharaReporters previously reported that the Katsina State Government had confirmed the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar while in the captivity of bandits, describing the development as a tragic loss to the state and the nation.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasiru Mu’azu.

According to the statement, the retired senior military officer died from complications arising from diabetes and hypertension while being held by his abductors.

The statement read, “The deceased retired general died a natural death from complications of diabetes and hypertension.”

The government disclosed that despite sustained efforts by the state administration and security agencies to secure his freedom, the situation ended in tragedy.

Mu’azu noted that the abduction and subsequent death of the retired military officer represented not only a painful loss to his family and Katsina State but also a monumental loss to Nigeria.

Reacting to the incident, Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda expressed deep sorrow over the death of the retired general, describing it as a dark moment for the state and a stark reminder of the security challenges facing the country.

The governor extended his condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul.

Radda also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working closely with the Federal Government and security agencies to combat banditry and other forms of criminality across the state.

But speaking in an interview conducted in Hausa with DW Hausa, Ishaka Rabe Abubakar, son of the deceased military officer, rejected claims that diabetes was responsible and said available indications pointed more towards a snakebite.

“The truth is that it was not diabetes that caused this illness. In our view, it was most likely a snakebite because a snakebite could explain the marks and the condition seen on his leg,” he said.