Dan Iyali Sentenced to Death for Kidnapping and Murder

The High Court of Justice in Sokoto State has sentenced Ibrahim Usman, also known as Dan Iyali, to death for his involvement in the kidnapping and murder of three individuals. The court convicted Usman on four counts, including criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, culpable homicide punishable by death, and voluntarily causing grievous hurt without provocation.

These crimes were committed in September 2023. The Department of State Services (DSS) reported that Usman was tried alongside other suspects, who remain at large.

The conviction is significant in the DSS's ongoing efforts to tackle violent crime in Nigeria's north-west region, which has faced persistent insecurity. The charge of culpable homicide punishable by death is one of the most serious offenses under Nigerian law, and the court found sufficient grounds to impose the maximum penalty on Usman for his role in the deaths of the victims.

The identities of the victims were not disclosed by the DSS, but the case remains open concerning Usman's co-accused.