The Department of State Services (DSS) has secured the conviction and death sentence of Ibrahim Usman, also known as Dan Iyali, for his involvement in the kidnapping and killing of three persons in Sokoto State. Usman was tried on a four-count charge before the Sokoto High Court, alongside other suspects who are currently at large. The charges included criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, culpable homicide punishable by death, and voluntarily causing grievous hurt without provocation.
According to the prosecution, Usman and his accomplices invaded Bare Village, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, on September 9, 2023, while armed with guns, shooting sporadically and kidnapping several residents. The victims included Ahmad Alhassan, Umar Usman, Adamu Haliru (Naibi), Alh Sule Muhammad, and Abdulmalik Muazu. They were taken to Marmaro Forest in Giayawa District, where Usman shot three of them, resulting in their deaths.
The three victims who were killed were identified as Alhaji Shuaibu Isah (Sarkin Ruwa), Umar Usman, and Adamu Haliru (Naibi). The suspects also allegedly shot Ahmad Alhassan in the neck and Abdulmalik Muazu in the groin before abandoning them in the forest. They were subsequently rescued by members of a vigilante group. The prosecution established that Usman's actions led to the deaths of the three victims.
Usman was arrested at Bare Village, Goronyo LGA, in May 2024, after which he was arraigned on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and culpable homicide under relevant provisions of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law 2019. Delivering judgment, Justice Mohammed Mohammed of the Sokoto High Court held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court sentenced Ibrahim Usman to life imprisonment for kidnapping and death by hanging for culpable homicide. The DSS stated that the conviction is 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 incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in Sokoto State and the efforts of the Nigerian authorities to bring perpetrators to justice. The DSS and other security agencies have been working to address the issue of kidnapping and terrorism in the region. The sentence is expected to serve as a deterrent to others who engage in similar crimes.
The case also underscores the importance of collaboration between security agencies and local communities in preventing and responding to security threats. The rescue of the two survivors by a vigilante group demonstrates the critical role that local residents can play in supporting security efforts. The authorities have urged communities to continue providing information and support to help address the security challenges in the region.
Key points
- The Department of State Services secured the conviction and death sentence of Ibrahim Usman for kidnapping and killing three people in Sokoto State.
- Usman was sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping and death by hanging for culpable homicide.
- The conviction is part of the DSS's efforts to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in kidnapping and terrorism-related violence.
