Federal High Court wey dey Abuja don finally drop heavy hammer on top three men wey security agencies link to the kidnapping of school children and teachers for Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The court no look face, no hear cry, as e sentence all three of dem to life imprisonment, meaning say na prison walls dem go dey see for the remaining years of their lives.
The three convicts — Abdulrazak Umar, wey people know as Abu Khalifa or Abu Khalid, Yunusa Musa (Yunusa Bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (Abu Itisar) — don officially lose their freedom forever. Court order say the life sentence go begin count from the day wey DSS and other security operatives first arrest dem.
Before Justice Salim Ibrahim deliver the final judgment, lawyer wey stand for the accused men side fall hand beg the court make e temper justice with mercy. E tell the judge say the men no be hardened criminals and say na their first time for this kind serious offence. E come add say immediately authorities read the charges give dem, dem accept guilt without wasting court time.
The lawyer still talk say their confession show say dem don realise the gravity of their crime and sincerely regret wetin dem do. E remind the court say the men get wives, children and aged parents wey still dey depend on dem for food and survival. According to am, life imprisonment go scatter plenty innocent lives, so e beg make court give dem another chance.
But government lawyer no gree hear that kain story.
The prosecutor tell the court say these men know plenty secrets about terrorist activities and the people wey dey carry out attacks, yet dem choose to keep quiet instead of alerting security agencies. According to am, anybody wey hide this kind information dey indirectly support terrorism and deserve serious punishment.
As court begin read the charges one after the other, the three men openly admit say dem belong to one terrorist group wey Federal Government don already declare illegal and ban from operating for Nigeria.
Dem still confess say dem hide vital information about how the Oriire school kidnapping take happen, including details about the planning and execution of the operation wey throw families into sorrow and fear.
For inside the matter, na only Abdulrazak Umar carry extra burden for head as e admit say e dey involved in training members, passing operational instructions and spreading extremist teachings wey terrorists dey use recruit and radicalise people.
The Department of State Services (DSS) prosecute the suspects on 10 serious charges, including kidnapping, terrorism, concealment of information and helping criminal networks operate without detection.
According to wetin court papers reveal, the three men wey come from Niger State no just dey aware of terrorist activities, dem deliberately keep crucial information to themselves instead of reporting am to security agencies. Investigations also show say dem get hand for kidnapping operations and use communication apps and messaging platforms to connect, organise and assist terrorist training activities. Prosecutors tell the court say the suspects knowingly help criminal networks operate from the shadows, making am easier for terrorists and kidnappers to plan and carry out their missions
With this judgment, the court don send strong signal to kidnappers, terrorists and anybody wey dey secretly help criminal gangs say the law no go pity anybody wey choose crime over peace. The message clear: if your hand dirty for terrorism or kidnapping, prison fit become your final bus stop.
