A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a housewife, Halima Haliru Umar, to 20 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of 302 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition and supporting terrorism-related activities.
Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa delivered the judgment on Friday after the defendant pleaded guilty to two out of four charges filed against her by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The judge ruled that the rising wave of terrorism and banditry across the country poses a grave threat to national security and should not be treated with leniency.
Justice Yilwa noted that although the convict appeared remorseful and pleaded for mercy, offences involving arms trafficking and terrorism support remained serious crimes capable of endangering innocent lives.
The court heard that the convict admitted acting as a courier responsible for transporting ammunition meant for bandits operating in Plateau State.
During the trial, a DSS operative, Fahad Tahir, told the court that the defendant was arrested on July 6, 2025, while allegedly transporting 302 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition and N57,100 cash to armed bandits.
According to the witness, the suspect made a confessional statement in Hausa at the DSS Plateau State Command, where she revealed that one Alhaji Sani instructed her to travel to Zaria in Kaduna State to obtain the ammunition from another individual.
The witness further disclosed that the defendant was later transferred to the DSS National Headquarters in Abuja, where she again admitted ownership and transportation of the ammunition during another interview conducted in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council.
The prosecution counsel, Dr. Callistus Samson Ezeh, tendered the ammunition, the cash recovered from the suspect, and her confessional statements as exhibits before the court.
The exhibits were admitted without objection from the defence counsel, Hamza Dantani.
In open court, the defendant also admitted being in possession of the ammunition and cash at the time of her arrest.
One of the charges stated that the convict knowingly rendered support for terrorism by transporting the live ammunition between Katsina and Plateau states, contrary to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Another charge accused her of unlawful possession of ammunition contrary to the Firearms Act, 2004.
The DSS further alleged that the convict concealed information concerning suspected gunrunners and kidnappers linked to terrorist operations.
Following her guilty plea and the evidence presented before the court, Justice Yilwa convicted and sentenced her to 20 years imprisonment.
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