The Department of State Services (DSS) in Nigeria has secured the conviction and death sentence of Ibrahim Usman, also known as Dan Iyali, for his role in the kidnapping and killing of three persons in Sokoto State. Usman was tried and convicted by the Sokoto High Court on a four-count charge, alongside other suspects who are still at large. The charges included criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and culpable homicide punishable by death.
According to the court's findings, Usman and his accomplices invaded Bare Village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State on September 9, 2023. They were armed with guns and shot sporadically, kidnapping several residents including Ahmad Alhassan, Umar Usman, and Adamu Haliru. The victims were taken to Marmaro Forest in Giayawa District, where Usman shot and killed three of them.
The prosecution established that Usman and his accomplices also shot Ahmad Alhassan in the neck and Abdulmalik Muazu in the groin before abandoning them in the forest. Fortunately, they were rescued by members of a vigilante group. Usman was arrested at Bare Village in May 2024 and subsequently arraigned on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and culpable homicide.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Mohammed Mohammed of the Sokoto High Court held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Mohammed sentenced Usman to life imprisonment for kidnapping and death by hanging for culpable homicide. The court also noted that the suspect's actions were a grave violation of the victims' rights and the laws of the land.
The DSS described the conviction as part of its ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute individuals allegedly involved in kidnapping, terrorism-related violence, and other serious security offences across the country. The agency vowed to continue working with other security agencies to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice.
The incident has been widely condemned, with many calling for increased efforts to tackle the growing insecurity in Sokoto State and other parts of Nigeria. The state government has been urged to take concrete steps to address the root causes of the insecurity and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book.
The sentence is expected to serve as a deterrent to others who may be contemplating similar crimes. Meanwhile, the DSS and other security agencies are working to apprehend the other suspects who are still at large in connection with the kidnapping and murder incident.
Key points
- Dan Iyali was sentenced to death for culpable homicide and life imprisonment for kidnapping.
- The incident occurred on September 9, 2023, in Bare Village, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
- The DSS described the conviction as part of its efforts to tackle kidnapping and terrorism-related violence in Nigeria.
