The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced a female gunrunner, Halima Haliru, to 20 years imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to terrorism related charges brought against her by the Department of State Services, DSS.
Haliru was arrested in July 2025 in Plateau State by DSS operatives after she was found in possession of 302 live rounds of 7.62×39mm ammunition believed to be linked to criminal activities involving bandits and kidnappers.
The convict pleaded guilty to two out of the four charges filed against her. Following her guilty plea, Justice Hauwa Yilwa sentenced her in accordance with the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act.
While delivering judgment, the trial judge said the court considered the convict’s plea for mercy but also acknowledged the seriousness of terrorism related offences and their threat to national peace and security.
The court sentenced Haliru to 20 years imprisonment on count three and one year imprisonment on count four. Justice Yilwa ruled that both sentences would run concurrently from the date of her arrest.
The court also directed that after completing her prison term, the convict should be transferred to a rehabilitation facility for deradicalisation before being reintegrated into society.
According to court documents, Haliru was accused of concealing information about suspected gunrunners, bandits and kidnappers identified as Alhaji Sani and another suspect. She was also accused of providing support for acts of terrorism by transporting ammunition between Katsina and Plateau states.
Meanwhile, the court fixed July 9 for the continuation of hearing on the remaining counts in the charge against her.
The judgment has been described as another major step in the fight against terrorism and illegal arms trafficking in Nigeria.
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