A High Court in Kogi State has sentenced a man arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) to death for kidnapping and murdering his neighbour, a hotel owner in Obajana.
Justice Abdul Nicodemus Awulu, in a ruling on Tuesday, found Jibrin Halilu guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping offences under the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences Prohibition Law, 2023, and subsequently imposed the maximum penalty.
According to the prosecution, Halilu and members of his armed gang invaded Everready Hotel in Angwa-Tiv, Obajana, on March 23, 2023, and abducted the hotel proprietor, Uche Andrew Offo.
The court heard that the victim’s family paid a ransom of ₦2.5 million demanded by the kidnappers, but the abductors allegedly killed him despite receiving the money.
The DSS said investigations revealed that Offo identified Halilu as one of his abductors while in captivity, adding that Halilu was arrested by the service on December 4, 2025.
The agency also alleged that further investigations linked Halilu and his gang to another kidnapping incident involving Ibrahim Abdullahi, a resident of Oshokoshoko community in Lokoja, who reportedly paid a ₦5 million ransom.
The conviction comes shortly after similar death sentences were handed down in Katsina State and by a Federal High Court in Abuja against suspects involved in terrorism, including the 2022 St. Francis Catholic Church attack in Owo, Ondo State.
The DSS described the convictions as a significant step in the fight against terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crimes, saying offenders will be prosecuted and made to face the consequences of their actions.
Comments
Add a comment