A Federal High Court in Katsina has sentenced a woman found guilty of terrorism-related offences to death by hanging after prosecutors established that she acted as an arms courier for a notorious bandit leader.

The convict, Hauwa’u Mukhtar, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on September 16, 2023, at Jibia Motor Park in Katsina State while allegedly transporting 438 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition intended for a suspected bandit commander identified as Ado, who reportedly operates in the Dunburum Forest area of Zamfara State.

According to security sources, the DSS charged Mukhtar before High Court No. 3 in Katsina on allegations bordering on conspiracy, aiding and abetting terrorism, and related offences under the applicable laws of the state.

Following the trial, Justice A. B. Bawale ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through documentary evidence, witness testimonies, and exhibits presented before the court.

Based on the findings, the court convicted Mukhtar on all counts and imposed the death penalty by hanging in line with the provisions of the Katsina State Penal Code Law, 2021.

Security officials described the judgment as a significant legal milestone in the fight against terrorism and arms trafficking, noting that it demonstrates the agency’s ability to secure convictions after intelligence-led operations.

The ruling marks the second death sentence reportedly secured through DSS prosecutions in June. Earlier in the month, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced four men to death over their involvement in the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, where more than 40 worshippers were killed.

The latest conviction also follows the recent sentencing of another female defendant, Halima Haliru Umar, who received a 20-year prison term after being found guilty of unlawfully possessing 302 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and attempting to provide material support for terrorist activities.