Mother and Sister of Terror Kingpin Sentenced to 40 Years

On June 19, 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Hauwa Yilwa, sentenced Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, the mother and sister of late terrorism kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, to 40 years in prison for terrorism-related offenses. The women were found guilty of aiding and abetting Battujo's activities, which included passing information via telephone conversations that facilitated his criminal actions.

They pleaded guilty to counts 2 and 5 of the charges, while being acquitted of counts 1 and 3. Battujo was reportedly killed by Nigerian security forces on June 10, 2026, in Kogi State.

The court's judgment underscores the judiciary's commitment to holding individuals accountable for links to extremist activities. The sentence will run concurrently, and the convicts are expected to undergo rehabilitation.

The ruling coincided with military operations in Borno State, where the Joint Task Force successfully repelled attacks from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.