Abuja Court Delivers Stiff 40-Year Sentence for Mother of Notorious Terror Kingpin

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two women, Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, to 20 years imprisonment each for terrorism-related offences. The women are the mother and sister, respectively, of the slain terrorist kingpin, Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, who was killed by Nigerian security forces on June 10, 2026, during an operation near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa handed down the sentences on Friday, June 19, 2026, after both women pleaded guilty to Counts 2, 4, and 5 of a five-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. The court struck out Counts 1 and 3 following an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mr. Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN.

Count 1 had alleged that the women received N490,300 from Battujo, knowing it was proceeds of terrorism, while Count 3 accused them of undertaking a Hajj pilgrimage sponsored with funds linked to terrorist activities. These counts were not pursued by the prosecution.

According to Count 2, both Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi “aided and abetted the activities of Battujo, a known bandit kingpin, and passed information through telephone conversations to the said Battujo,” thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In addition to pleading guilty to Count 2, Safiya Salihu, Battujo’s mother, pleaded guilty to Count 5, which bordered on concealment of information regarding the terrorist activities of her son. Halima Abdullahi, Battujo's sister, also pleaded guilty to Count 4, which concerned her concealment of information that her brother had illegally acquired firearms, which she reportedly saw during a visit to his forest camp.

While the punishment for each of the counts to which they pleaded guilty is 20 years, Justice Yilwa ordered that the sentences run concurrently. This means each convict will serve a total of 20 years in prison. The judge further directed that the convicts undergo rehabilitation after serving their prison terms.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had arrested Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi during investigations into the activities and support network of the slain terrorist leader. This conviction is regarded as part of ongoing efforts by security agencies and the Federal Government to dismantle terrorism networks and prosecute individuals found to be aiding or concealing terrorist activities.