The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced five men to 25 years imprisonment each for their involvement in the November 21, 2025, attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
Justice Binta Nyako handed down the sentence shortly after the defendants pleaded guilty to four terrorism-related charges bordering on support for terrorism and unlawful possession of firearms under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act.
The convicts include Yusuf Muhammad (a.k.a. Bature), Goni Ibrahim Bindi (a.k.a. Goni Mutuwa), Sani Tukur (a.k.a. Danladi), Mubarak Ibrahim, and Musa Alhaji Adamu (a.k.a. Gado Banufe), who were arrested at different locations by DSS operatives less than two weeks ago.
They were accused of involvement in the movement of arms linked to terrorist activities in Niger State.
During one of the operations, DSS operatives recovered 15 AK-47 rifles and 1,434 rounds of live ammunition hidden in sacks of dried fish inside a Volkswagen Golf car.
The court ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle to the Federal Government.
The November 21, 2025, attack was carried out by armed men on motorcycles who stormed St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in the early hours, shooting sporadically and abducting students and staff.
About 50 students escaped during the attack, while over 250 others were taken into the Kainji Lake forest.
On Count 1, the court said between April 23 and 24, 2026, the convicts conspired to transport 15 AK-103 rifles and
