By: Zagazola Makama

Barely 24 hours after a Katsina State High Court sentenced to death a female arms courier arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), a High Court of Kogi State has also imposed the death penalty on a man the DSS successfully prosecuted for kidnapping and murdering his neighbour, who ran a hotel in Obajana.
The Katsina and Kogi sentences came less than two weeks after a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, imposed the death penalty on four men arrested by the DSS for carrying out the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The Kogi court, presided over by Justice Abdul Nicodemus Awulu, on Tuesday, found Jibrin Halilu guilty on the charges of conspiracy and kidnapping, in contravention of Sections 12, 6 (1), and 4 (3)(a) of the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences Prohibition Law, 2023. The court subsequently sentenced Halilu to death.

According to the prosecution, on March 23, 2023, Halilu and other members of his armed gang stormed Ever Ready hotel, Angwa-Tiv, in Obajana town,
abducting the proprietor, Uche Andrew Offo. Even though Offo’s family handed his abductors the N2.5 million ransom they demanded, they, nonetheless, killed him.
The DSS prosecutor told the court that operatives of the Service arrested Halilu on December 4, 2025.

“DSS investigations revealed that, while with his abductors, Offo was able to identify Halilu, who happened to be his neighbour, as being part of those who kidnapped him. That was when Halilu, despite the N2.5 million ransom he collected from Offo’s family, still killed him.

“Further investigations by the DSS also linked Halilu and his gang to the April 2, 2023 kidnapping of one Ibrahim Abdullahi, a resident of Oshokoshoko Community in Lokoja, from whom the gang collected a N5 million ransom,” a source also revealed.
The Kogi and Katsina convictions and sentencings come on the heels of a June 3, 2026, landmark verdict by a Federal High Court in Abuja sentencing four men to death for their roles in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The court sentenced the quartet of Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris to death by hanging for the attack which resulted in the death of over 40 worshippers and left over 100 persons injured.

“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.

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, has reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking through stronger collaboration with stakeholders, as it joined other security agencies and development partners at a conference on substance abuse prevention in Ilorin.

The stakeholders’ conference, held at the Kwara State Innovation Hub, GRA Ilorin, was themed “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges and Innovative Responses.” It was organised by the MTN Foundation Nigeria under its Anti-Substance Abuse Programme in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, and the Kwara State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Representing a broad coalition of stakeholders, the Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Area Command, joined other law enforcement and security agencies in deliberating on practical solutions to tackle the growing menace of substance abuse, particularly among young people.

Dignitaries at the event included the representative of the First Lady of Kwara State and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Maryam Iya Imam; the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control, Mr Mukail Aileru; senior executives of MTN Nigeria; and other government officials.

Security agencies represented at the conference included the Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Participants also comprised teachers, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, pupils and students from primary and secondary schools across the state.

The conference focused on promoting collaborative efforts and inclusive strategies to address the illegal use of narcotic substances. Discussions gained momentum through a series of keynote presentations highlighting strategic measures to curb drug trafficking and innovative approaches to addressing a crisis that continues to threaten Nigeria’s social and economic development.

Speakers at the event stressed that tackling substance abuse is a shared responsibility, urging parents to take the lead in prevention efforts while emphasising the crucial roles of teachers, religious leaders and traditional rulers in shaping positive values among young people.

According to the organisers, sustained partnerships among security agencies, government institutions, community leaders and private sector organisations remain critical to winning the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.

The MTN Foundation noted that its Anti-Substance Abuse Programme has been running since 2019, providing training and awareness programmes for teachers, schoolchildren and NYSC members across Nigeria.

“The initiative has been active since 2019, training teachers, schoolchildren and NYSC members across the country, and we remain committed to continuing our advocacy and capacity-building efforts,” representatives of the foundation stated during the conference.

The event ended with a group photograph and networking session among participants, reinforcing the collective resolve of stakeholders, including the Nigeria Customs Service, to strengthen preventive measures and safeguard communities against the dangers of substance abuse.

• Tasks students on tree planting

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has implored school children across the state to embrace agriculture and see it as a catalyst of promoting food security and creating wealth.

He also encouraged them and the entire residents to cultivate the habit of planting trees, protecting green spaces, and avoiding indiscriminate waste disposal in the schools and across communities.

The Governor was speaking in Ilorin at the flag-off of the Inter-Local Government Quiz Competition on Agricultural Education Training Programme (AETP) and official launch of the Environmental Sustainability Club through Tree Planting in Kwara State.

“This event represents two critical pillars of our administration’s development agenda: quality education and environmental sustainability. It is particularly gratifying to see our young learners at the centre of this initiative,” the Governor said while declaring open the quiz competition.

“These children are the future leaders, innovators, farmers, scientists, and environmental stewards who will shape the destiny of our state and nation.

“We are encouraging them to see agriculture not merely as a means of subsistence but as a modern, technology-driven sector capable of creating wealth, ensuring food security, and driving economic growth.”

The 2-legged event was organized by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

The Governor said the initiative aligns with his government’s efforts to strengthen climate-smart agriculture and agricultural capacity development in the state.

AbdulRazaq said the Inter-Local Government Quiz Competition is more than an academic exercise but a platform for intellectual engagement, innovation, and healthy competition among students from across our sixteen local government areas.

“The trees we plant today symbolise life, hope, resilience, and our collective responsibility to protect the environment,” the Governor said through the SUBEB Chairman, Prof Sheu Raheem Adaramaja who represented him.

He noted that beyond beautifying our surroundings, trees improve air quality, prevent soil erosion, absorb carbon emissions, and contribute to a healthier ecosystem for future generations.

Dignitaries at the event included the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, represented by Director of School Services in the Ministry, Mrs Osanupin Olubunmi;
State Women Leader for APC), Hajia Falilat Ronke Mohammed; Kwara Central Senatorial Chairman,
Alhaji Mahmud Tunrawa; Local Government Education Secretaries, Coordinator, Adaramaja Women Alliance, Hajia Rafat Ajao Gomi; representatives of the Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS)
and Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), and students.

Prof Adaramaja, whose speech was delivered by the Director of Administration, Alhaji Abdulateef Sholagberu, said the occasion represents another significant milestone in the collective efforts to strengthen basic education through practical learning, environmental responsibility, and the promotion of agricultural knowledge among the learners.

He said the Agricultural Education Training Programme (AETP) has been carefully designed to expose pupils to modern agricultural concepts and practices, stimulate their interest in farming and agribusiness.

He, however, requested contractors who recently secured contracts with the state government for school construction/rehabilitation to make sure they germinate trees in their sites before they can deliver the projects.

At the end of the quiz competition, where at least 19 students of the public basic schools had participated, Torkuma Perfect (St Anthony Secondary School) got the first prize and went home with 500,000. Ibeh Daniel (also from St Anthony) turned out a first runner-up and received N 250,000, while Abdulrahman Thani Fatimah from Queen Elizabeth School got 100,000 for a second runner-up position.

Highlight of the event was the practical demonstration of tree planting by school children.