The Jigawa State High Court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Kaugama, has sentenced two kidnappers, Sani Mohammed and Babannan Saleh (also known as Ustaz), to death by hanging.

The court found the duo guilty of abduction and culpable homicide, along with imposing additional prison terms for robbery and criminal conspiracy. Justice Kaugama ruled that the prosecution conclusively proved its case under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law of Jigawa State, 2021.

Among their crimes, Mohammed and Saleh were involved in the high-profile abduction of Hamidan Abdu in Ringim Local Government Area and Mr. Eze Virginus Emmanuel in Kano State. The kidnappers had demanded ransoms of ₦20 million and ₦14.65 million, respectively.

In a separate incident, Saleh was convicted for the kidnapping of Abdullahi Jarma in Maigatari Town, Jigawa State. Despite receiving a ₦2.5 million ransom, the perpetrators tragically killed Ahmed Nadabo during the exchange. Saleh was also implicated in the kidnapping of Alhaji Kabiru Taura, where a ₦20 million ransom was demanded.

Justice Kaugama sentenced the convicts to death for abduction and homicide, with additional sentences of life imprisonment and three years for robbery and conspiracy, to run concurrently.