Sokoto Court Sentences CJTF Members to Death for Murder

On October 22, 2026, in Suit No. SS/78C/2026, Justice Kabiru Muhammad sentenced three members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (Gaji Hassan, Abdullahi Goni Gudusu, and Modu Bukar) to death by hanging.

The court found them guilty on all three counts related to the murder of Babangida Nasiru, which occurred on September 19, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m. in Kagara village, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The convicts, armed with rifles, abducted Nasiru and a female companion, demanding ₦260,000 from him.

Nasiru was later discovered dead with gunshot wounds to his chest and neck. The prosecution presented two witnesses, and the judge deemed the surviving eyewitness's testimony credible.

The court rejected the defendants' claims of having released Nasiru, citing the legal principle of “last seen.” Justice Muhammad ruled that their confessional statements were admissible, dismissing allegations of torture. The convicts were informed of their right to appeal within 90 days.