Kano Federal High Court Sentences Woman to 10 Years Imprisonment for Supplying Arms to Bandits

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano has convicted and sentenced a woman, Raya Haruna, to 10 years imprisonment for trafficking arms and ammunition to bandits operating across Northern Nigeria.

The presiding judge, Justice Simon Amobeda, delivered the judgment on Friday after finding the defendant guilty on a three-count charge bordering on the unlawful transportation of firearms and providing logistical support to criminal syndicates. The prosecution brought the case under the provisions of the Firearms Act and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Haruna was originally apprehended by security operatives in 2024 during a targeted operation designed to intercept weapon supply lines feeding bandits terrorizing communities in Kano State and neighboring jurisdictions. She has remained in continuous custody throughout her trial.

In his judgment, Justice Amobeda clarified that while the convict did not physically pull the trigger in violent raids, her role as an arms courier was a critical component that enabled and sustained the lethal operations of bandits and terrorists. He noted that the logistics chain of moving weaponry facilitates mass casualties, injuries, and widespread displacement in vulnerable communities.

The court ruled that under the Terrorism Act of 2022, facilitating transport or material aid to terrorist networks carries severe statutory penalties. Consequently, Justice Amobeda sentenced Haruna to 10 years imprisonment on each of the three counts, to run concurrently from her initial date of detention in 2024. No option of a fine was provided.

Furthermore, the court ordered all recovered weapons and ammunition to be permanently transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS) and directed prison authorities to enroll the convict in rehabilitation and reformation programs during her incarceration. The judge concluded that the ruling should serve as a firm deterrent to logistics operators, transporters, and couriers against facilitating criminal enterprises.