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. The charges included criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, culpable homicide punishable by death, and voluntarily causing grievous hurt without provocation.
According to the prosecution, Usman and other suspects invaded Bare Village in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State on September 9, 2023, armed with guns. They allegedly shot sporadically and kidnapped several residents, including Ahmad Alhassan, Umar Usman, Adamu Haliru, Alhaji Sule Muhammad, and Abdulmalik Muazu. The victims were taken to Marmaro Forest in Giayawa District.
The prosecution established that Usman shot Alhaji Shuaibu Isah, Umar Usman, and Adamu Haliru, resulting in their deaths. The court also heard that Ahmad Alhassan was shot in the neck while Abdulmalik Muazu was shot in the groin before both were abandoned in the forest. They were later rescued by members of a vigilante group.
Delivering judgment, Justice Mohammed Mohammed held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court sentenced Usman to life imprisonment for kidnapping and death by hanging for culpable homicide. The sentences were handed down in accordance with relevant provisions of the Sokoto State Penal Code Law 2019.
Security sources said Usman was arrested in Bare Village, Goronyo LGA, in May 2024 and subsequently arraigned. A security source said the conviction formed part of the DSS’s ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in kidnapping, terrorism-related violence, and other serious security offences across the country.
The DSS’s efforts to combat insecurity in Nigeria have been ongoing, with several high-profile cases resulting in convictions. The agency has been working to bring perpetrators of violent crimes to justice, in line with the Nigerian government's commitment to tackling insecurity.
The case highlights the severity of the security situation in Sokoto State and the need for sustained efforts to address the issue of kidnapping and violent crime. The conviction of Usman sends a strong message to would-be perpetrators of similar crimes.
Key points
- The Department of State Services (DSS) secured the conviction and death sentence of Ibrahim Usman for his involvement in the kidnapping and killing of three persons 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 ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in kidnapping, terrorism-related violence, and other serious security offences across the country.
