By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced five men to 25 years imprisonment each for their roles in the deadly attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.
Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako delivered the judgment after the convicts pleaded guilty to four terrorism-related charges brought against them by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The suspects were arrested on May 31, 2026, following investigations into the November 21, 2025 attack on the Catholic boarding school, where gunmen abducted hundreds of students and teachers.
According to the charges, the convicts conspired to support terrorism by transporting 15 AK-103 rifles and about 1,434 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition from the Diffa region of the Republic of Niger to a Boko Haram member identified as Malam Ahmad in Borgu, Niger State.
The offences violated provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act.
During one of the operations, DSS operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf vehicle loaded with 15 AK-47 rifles and 1,434 rounds of live ammunition concealed inside sacks. The recovered weapons and ammunition were presented as exhibits in court.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle to the Federal Government.
The Papiri school attack sparked nationwide outrage after heavily armed gunmen riding motorcycles invaded the school and abducted pupils and staff. While about 50 students escaped during the chaos, more than 250 others were reportedly forced into the Kainji Lake Reserve Forest by the attackers.
The incident further heightened concerns over worsening insecurity and mass abductions across the country.
