Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced a housewife, Halima Haliru Umar, to 20 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of 302 rounds of live AK‑47 ammunition and for supporting acts of terrorism. Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa handed down the sentence on Friday, May 15, 2026, after the defendant pleaded guilty to two out of a four‑count charge filed against her by the Department of State Services (DSS). Justice Yilwa held that the growing menace of banditry and terrorism in the country had become a serious threat to national security and should not be handled with leniency. The judge noted that although the convict appeared remorseful and pleaded for mercy, offences connected to terrorism and arms trafficking remained grave threats to the safety of citizens.
The court heard that the convict admitted serving as a courier for the transportation of ammunition intended for bandits operating in Plateau State, a region that has witnessed repeated violent attacks, kidnappings, and mass displacements over the years. During the trial, the first prosecution witness and DSS operative, Fahad Tahir, told the court that the accused was arrested on July 6, 2025, with 302 rounds of AK‑47 rifle ammunition and N57,100 in cash while allegedly transporting the items to armed bandits in Plateau. According to Tahir, the defendant made a confessional statement in the Hausa language at the DSS Plateau State Command, where she disclosed that one Alhaji Sani had sent her to Zaria in Kaduna State to procure the ammunition from another individual. The witness further stated that the accused was later transferred to the DSS National Headquarters in Abuja on August 11, 2025, where another interview was conducted in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council. He said the defendant again admitted ownership and transportation of the ammunition and cash exhibits.
The prosecution counsel, Dr. Callistus Samson Ezeh, tendered the 302 rounds of ammunition, the cash sum of N57,100, and the defendant’s statements as exhibits before the court. The exhibits were admitted without objection from defence counsel, Hamza Dantani. In open court, the defendant also admitted being in possession of the ammunition and cash at the time of her arrest. One of the charges stated that the convict knowingly rendered support for acts of terrorism by transporting 302 rounds of AK‑47 live ammunition between Katsina and Plateau States, contrary to Section 13(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Another charge accused her of unlawful possession of ammunition contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act, 2004. The DSS also accused the defendant of concealing information about suspected gunrunners and kidnappers allegedly linked to terrorist activities.
Following her guilty plea and review of the evidence presented, Justice Yilwa convicted and sentenced the defendant to 20 years imprisonment. The sentence sends a strong signal that the Nigerian judiciary is taking a hard line against individuals who facilitate the flow of weapons to criminal gangs. In recent years, Plateau State has become a hotspot for banditry, communal clashes, and terrorist attacks, with entire villages emptied and hundreds of lives lost. Security analysts have long warned that the proliferation of small arms and light weapons is fuelling the crisis, and that couriers like Halima Haliru Umar form a critical link in the supply chain that keeps the bandits armed and dangerous.
The case also highlights the increasing role of women in arms trafficking networks, a phenomenon that security agencies are only beginning to understand. Traditionally, women have been seen as unlikely suspects in weapons smuggling, making them ideal couriers who can pass through checkpoints without arousing suspicion. The DSS has indicated that it is actively investigating other members of the network, including the mysterious Alhaji Sani who allegedly commissioned the ammunition purchase. The court did not order the forfeiture of the N57,100 cash, but the money is likely to be treated as proceeds of crime and may be recovered by the state.
Human rights groups have welcomed the conviction but have also called for a broader strategy to address the root causes of banditry, including poverty, lack of education, and the proliferation of small arms across Nigeria’s porous borders. The verdict is expected to serve as a deterrent to others who might consider transporting weapons for criminal groups. As Justice Yilwa noted in her ruling, the security of the nation cannot be compromised, and those who aid terrorists, even as couriers, must face the full weight of the law.
Halima Haliru Umar will now serve two decades behind bars, her family shattered by her decision to carry 302 rounds of death to Plateau. For the communities that have suffered through years of bandit attacks, the sentence offers a measure of justice, but the war against the gunrunners is far from over. The DSS has vowed to continue its pursuit of the supply chains that arm the killers, and the courts have made it clear: no one, not even a housewife, will be spared if they are caught fuelling the flames of insecurity.
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