Convicts linked to arms supply for Boko Haram as court orders forfeiture of vehicle used to transport weapons
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced five terrorism suspects to 25 years imprisonment each for their roles in the November 2025 attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Niger State.
Justice Binta Nyako delivered the judgment on Thursday after the suspects, including two citizens of the Republic of Niger, pleaded guilty to four terrorism-related charges filed against them.
The convicts were arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on May 31, 2026, for allegedly facilitating the delivery of 15 AK-103 rifles and 1,434 rounds of live ammunition to a Boko Haram member operating in Borgu, Niger State.
The court heard that the weapons were transported from the Diffa region of Niger Republic and were intended to support terrorist activities. During the operation that led to their arrest, DSS operatives recovered the arms and ammunition concealed in sacks inside a Volkswagen Golf vehicle.
Justice Nyako also ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle to the Federal Government.
The convictions stem from investigations into the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School on November 21, 2025, when heavily armed gunmen stormed the institution and abducted hundreds of pupils and teachers.
The incident sparked national outrage and heightened concerns over insecurity across the country. Although many students escaped during the attack, others were taken into the Kainji Lake Reserve Forest before being rescued weeks later through coordinated security operations.
The sentencing is being viewed as a significant breakthrough in efforts to prosecute individuals linked to terrorism and attacks on educational institutions in Nigeria.