Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A High Court in Kogi State has sentenced a man, Jibrin Halilu, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping in connection with the abduction and murder of a hotel proprietor in Obajana, the court confirmed on Tuesday. The judgment, delivered by Justice Abdul Nicodemus Awulu, marked the third major death sentence secured by the Department of State Services in less than two weeks, following similar convictions in Katsina State and the Federal High Court in Abuja for the 2022 Owo church attack.
According to court proceedings, the case arose from the March 23, 2023 abduction of Uche Andrew Offo, proprietor of Everready Hotel in Angwa‑Tiv, Obajana. Prosecutors told the court that Offo was kidnapped by an armed gang and that a ransom of N2.5 million was subsequently paid by his family. Despite the payment, Offo was later killed. Halilu, who was Offo’s neighbour, was arrested by DSS operatives on December 4, 2025, following investigations into the incident. The DSS prosecutor told the court that Offo, while in captivity, was able to identify Halilu as one of the members of the gang that abducted him, a recognition that ultimately sealed his fate, as the suspect allegedly decided to eliminate him despite having already collected the ransom payment.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Justice Awulu held that the prosecution had proved its case against Halilu under Sections 12, 6(1), and 4(3)(a) of the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences Prohibition Law, 2023, and sentenced him accordingly. The court found Halilu guilty on the charges of conspiracy and kidnapping and subsequently imposed the maximum penalty of death on the convict. Further investigations reportedly linked Halilu and his gang to the abduction of one Ibrahim Abdullahi from Oshokoshoko Community in Lokoja on April 2, 2023, from whom the gang collected a ransom of N5 million.
The conviction comes amid a growing list of successful prosecutions arising from DSS investigations. In the June 3 Owo Church attack case, a Federal High Court sentenced Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al‑Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik and Abdulhaleem Idris to death by hanging for their roles in the attack that killed more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured. Barely 24 hours earlier, a Katsina State High Court had also sentenced a female arms courier arrested by the DSS to death. Reacting to the latest conviction, a security source described the judgment as a strong signal that perpetrators of kidnapping, terrorism and other violent crimes would continue to face the full weight of the law. “These convictions mark a significant run of courtroom victories for the DSS, reinforcing the message that those who engage in terrorism, kidnapping, and armed violence will not only be caught, but will be prosecuted and made to face the full consequences of their actions,” the source declared.
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