Court sentences man to death for abducting, killing neighbour after collecting ransom in Kogi
A high court of Kogi state has sentenced a man arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) to death for kidnapping and murdering his neighbour after collecting a N2.5 million ransom from the victim’s family.
The convict, Jibrin Halilu, was found guilty by Abdul Awulu, the presiding judge, on charges of conspiracy and kidnapping under sections 12, 6(1) and 4(3)(a) of the Kogi State Kidnapping and Other Related Offences Prohibition Law, 2023.
The judgement came barely 24 hours after a Katsina Slstate high court sentenced a female arms courier arrested by the DSS to death for aiding terrorism.
According to the prosecution, Halilu and members of his armed gang attacked Ever Ready Hotel in Angwa-Tiv, Obajana, on March 23, 2023, and abducted its proprietor, Uche Andrew Offo.
Although Offo’s family paid the N2.5 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers, the victim was later killed.
The prosecution told the court that DSS operatives arrested Halilu on December 4, 2025, following an investigation into the crime.
Investigators found that Offo had identified Halilu, who was his neighbour, as one of the kidnappers while in captivity.
According to security sources, Halilu subsequently killed the victim despite receiving the ransom payment.
Further DSS investigations reportedly linked Halilu and his gang to the April 2, 2023 abduction of Ibrahim Abdullahi from the Oshokoshoko community in Lokoja, where the gang allegedly collected a N5 million ransom.
The conviction adds to a series of recent high-profile court victories secured through DSS investigations and prosecutions.
On June 3, 2026, a federal high court in Abuja sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The convicts — Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris — were found guilty of carrying out the attack that killed more than 40 worshippers and injured over 100 others.
Security sources said the recent convictions demonstrate growing efforts to ensure that perpetrators of terrorism, kidnapping and violent crimes are brought to justice
