THE Department of State Services (DSS) has announced plans to appeal the life imprisonment handed to three men convicted over their roles in the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, insisting that the punishment does not reflect the gravity of the crimes committed.
News Point Nigeria reports that a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Salim Ibrahim, sentenced Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar, to life imprisonment, with the sentences to take effect from the date of their arrest.
The DSS, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment, arguing that the life sentences were not commensurate with the offences committed during the Oriire abduction, particularly the beheading of two teachers by members of the terrorist group involved in the operation.
Justice Ibrahim sentenced the three convicts after they pleaded guilty to belonging to Darul Salam, an affiliate of the Ansaru terrorist organisation, concealing information relating to the kidnapping, and inciting terrorism through religious ideology.
At their arraignment before the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges, the three defendants also pleaded guilty to concealing information concerning the planning and execution of the abduction.
However, only the first defendant, Abdulrazak Umar, alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid, pleaded guilty to Counts 7, 8, 9 and 10, which bordered on training, passing operational instructions and inciting members of the terrorist group through a particular religious ideology.
Before the court delivered its judgment, counsel to the defendants pleaded for leniency, urging the court to impose liberal sentences.
The defence lawyer argued that the defendants were first-time offenders who had pleaded guilty, demonstrating remorse for their actions.
He further submitted that all the counts against them were not directly related to the act of kidnapping, adding that the convicts were married men with children and elderly parents who depended on them for support.
According to the defence, the court should give them a second chance by imposing lighter sentences.
Counsel for the prosecution opposed the plea for leniency, arguing that the convicts were aware of terrorist activities and the people operating on the battlefield but failed to report the information to the relevant authorities as responsible citizens.
The three defendants, all from Niger State, were prosecuted by the DSS on a 10-count charge bordering on kidnapping, concealment of information and terrorism-related offences, contrary to Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the charges, they knowingly withheld information about individuals linked to terrorist activities, participated in kidnapping operations and used a messaging platform to facilitate terrorist training.
Justice Ibrahim sentenced all three defendants to life imprisonment on Count 6.
In addition, Abdulrazak Umar was sentenced to life imprisonment on Counts 7, 9 and 10 after pleading guilty to offences relating to terrorist training, dissemination of operational instructions and ideological incitement.
Despite securing the convictions, the DSS maintained that the punishment fell short of the severity of the offences, particularly in light of the killing of two teachers during the abduction.
The agency said it would challenge the judgment at the appellate court in pursuit of stiffer penalties.
The latest development comes barely a week after another Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced two top commanders of the Ansaru terrorist organisation—Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, popularly known as Mallam Mamuda to life imprisonment following their arrest by the DSS.
The DSS has also indicated that it will appeal that judgment, maintaining that the sentences imposed in terrorism-related cases should adequately reflect the gravity of the offences committed and serve as a stronger deterrent against terrorism.