A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a 40-year-old father of six, Hamza Yahuza, to seven years in prison for supplying drugs and cigarettes to Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
Presiding judge, Binta Fatima Nyako, handed down the sentence after the defendant admitted in open court to committing the offence in 2023. Yahuza pleaded for mercy, but the court ruled that the gravity of the crime outweighed his request for leniency.
The conviction is part of a broader crackdown led by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which has brought over 500 suspects before various courts for allegedly aiding and abetting terrorism across Nigeria. Authorities say the trials are aimed at dismantling support networks that sustain insurgent groups.
Yahuza confessed to supplying Indian hemp, cigarettes, and other substances to Boko Haram fighters operating in parts of Monguno Local Government Area of Borno State. His actions, prosecutors argued, directly contributed to the operational capacity of the террорист group.
Despite his appeal, the court dismissed his claim that poverty drove him into the illegal trade. Justice Nyako stressed that economic hardship cannot justify actions that endanger national security and human lives.
In delivering judgment, the court imposed a seven-year prison term, ordering that the sentence take effect from March 6, 2023—the date of his arrest and detention.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to tighten enforcement against individuals accused of supporting insurgency, particularly in the North-East, where Boko Haram’s activities have caused widespread devastation over the years.
