Woman Sentenced to Death for Supplying Ammunition to Bandits in Katsina

Woman Sentenced to Death for Supplying Ammunition to Bandits in Katsina

A Katsina State High Court has sentenced a woman, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, to death by hanging after convicting her of conspiracy to commit terrorism and aiding terrorist activities by supplying ammunition to bandits operating in northwestern Nigeria.

The judgment was delivered by Justice A. B. Bawale of High Court No. 3 in Katsina after the court found that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through witness testimonies and documentary evidence presented during the trial.

Mukhtar, described by security agencies as a female arms courier, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at Jibia Motor Park in Katsina State on September 16, 2023. She was allegedly caught while attempting to transport 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition intended for a suspected bandit kingpin identified as Ado, who reportedly operates from the notorious Dunburum Forest in Zamfara State.

According to court documents, the DSS launched an investigation after receiving intelligence about the movement of ammunition to criminal groups responsible for attacks, kidnappings, and other violent crimes across parts of the North-West.

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Following her arrest, the DSS arraigned Mukhtar on a two-count charge bordering on terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and aiding terrorist activities. During the proceedings, prosecutors presented exhibits and testimonies linking her to the transportation of ammunition allegedly destined for armed groups operating in the region.

After reviewing the evidence, Justice Bawale ruled that the prosecution had successfully established the charges against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. The court subsequently convicted Mukhtar and sentenced her to death by hanging in accordance with the provisions of the Katsina State Penal Code Law, 2021.

Security analysts have described the conviction as a significant step in efforts to dismantle the supply chains that sustain banditry and terrorism in northern Nigeria. Authorities have increasingly targeted not only armed gang leaders but also individuals involved in procuring, transporting, and distributing weapons and ammunition to criminal networks.

The judgment comes amid intensified security operations against armed groups operating across Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, and parts of Niger State, where bandit attacks and mass kidnappings have remained major security concerns.

The case also follows other recent terrorism-related convictions secured by Nigerian authorities. In May, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced another female suspect, Halima Haliru Umar, to 20 years imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to possessing hundreds of rounds of ammunition allegedly meant for terrorist elements.

Similarly, a Federal High Court recently convicted four men linked to the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, highlighting ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to prosecute individuals connected to terrorism and violent crimes.

The conviction of Hauwa’u Mukhtar is expected to reinforce the government’s resolve to crack down on the logistics networks that enable bandits and terrorist groups to acquire weapons and sustain their operations across the country.

Woman Sentenced to Death for Supplying Ammunition to Bandits in Katsina