A High Court sitting in Sokoto State has sentenced three men, including a foreign national, to death by hanging.

The sentence followed their conviction on charges bordering on terrorism and arms proliferation.

The convicts, Yusuf Muhammad (alias Sallau), a Nigerien; Jabbi Alhaji Yalle; and Kabiru Muhammad, were said to have been arrested on 13th June, 2025.

They were apprehended by the Department of State Services, DSS, Counter Terrorism Unit in connection with cross-border criminal activities bordering on arms trafficking and terrorism.

The case, marked SS/45c/2026, was presided over by Justice Muhammad Nuraddeen Bello of High Court No. 23, Sokoto.

Justice Bello, while delivering the judgment

found all three defendants guilty as charged and sentenced them to death by hanging.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of all monetary exhibits recovered from the convicts to the Federal Government.

“The conviction is the latest in a series of successful prosecutions by the DSS in its sustained operations against terrorism and organised cross-border criminal networks across Nigeria,” Justice Bello said.

Troops of Sector 5, Joint Task Force South-East Operation UDO KA, in conjunction with sister services and other security agencies, have neutralized three suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, in Anambra State.

The Nigerian Army Headquarters, in a statement on its official Facebook page on Wednesday, said the operation followed credible intelligence.

According to the statement, the criminal elements were “masquerading in military camouflage and Nigeria Police uniforms to perpetrate violent attacks”.

The army said upon receipt of the intelligence, the joint security team “swiftly mobilised and tracked the suspects along the Ogboji–Ajali axis in Orumba South Local Government Area on 23 June 2026”.

“The suspects were intercepted while moving in a white Toyota Sienna vehicle, leading to a fierce firefight during which three ESN operatives were neutralised.

“Following the engagement, troops conducted a thorough exploitation of the area and recovered PKM machine guns with 53 rounds of ammunition, two AK-47 rifles, additional rounds of 7.62mm and 5.56mm ammunition, four improvised explosive devices, IEDs, communication devices, a laptop and the vehicle used by the criminals.

“Troops also recovered identification and financial documents belonging to suspected members of the group,” the statement added.

The Ondo State Security Network Agency, also known as Amotekun Corps, has arrested a couple in connection with a burglary at the country home of the former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Jumoke Akindele in Okitipupa.

Operatives of the corps recovered seven stolen mobile phones and other valuables carted away during the operation and as well, foiled an attempt to smuggle the items to Lagos for sale.

The suspects, identified as Samson Osowe, 28, and his wife Ayo Oguneso, 22, were apprehended following an intelligence-driven operation that tracked the stolen items to a transporter who was preparing to convey them out of Okitipupa to Lagos.

The security agency also disclosed that an accomplice involved in the transportation chain had been arrested and taken into custody following the confession of the suspects.

While parading the suspects, the Commander of the Amotekun Corps in the state, Adetunji Adeleye, said, “I’m happy to let you know that all the phones stolen are here in front of the suspects, and the two suspects are right here with us,

Samson Osowe, 28, male, and his wife Ayo Oguneso 22. Including the transporter who was supposed to take the phones out of Okitipupa to Lagos.

“We equally have the accomplice, but because we expanded our scope of investigation to other issues, that is why others, not only directly related, but have been doing that in that local government on our watch list.

“We put everything in place to arrest them, but they will go to court immediately, and the phones will be released on bond to the honourable.”

Meanwhile, the former Speaker confirmed that the burglary occurred in the middle of the night on Sunday, adding that expensive mobile handsets and other personal effects were stolen.

Akindele, who disclosed that several windows were damaged during the operation, called for the establishment of state police in Nigeria, pointing to the success of the Amotekun Corps in Ondo State as the strongest argument for such a constitutional amendment.

She said: “I have often been regaled with the heroic efforts of the Amotekun Corps to battle and curtail all forms of crimes and insecurity in Ondo State and to state that I am awed by their dexterity, their determination, their bravery and commitment to duty is an understatement.

“I salute the Corps Commandant, Mr. Adetunji , whose effective and productive style of leadership is evident. Investigations are ongoing with most of the perpetrators in the Amotekun custody.”