A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Safiya Salihu and Halima Abdullahi, the mother and sister of slain bandit kingpin Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo, to 40 years imprisonment each for terrorism-related offences.

Justice Hauwa Yilwa delivered the judgment on Friday after both women pleaded guilty to three counts bordering on aiding terrorism and concealing information about the activities of the notorious bandit leader.

The court found that the convicts facilitated Battujo’s operations by passing information to him through telephone conversations and failed to report intelligence that could have aided his arrest. Evidence presented before the court showed that they had visited his forest hideout, saw him armed with firearms, yet did not inform security agencies.

However, the court discharged them on two counts alleging they received ₦490,300 from Battujo as proceeds of terrorism, following an application by the prosecution to withdraw those charges.

The offences were prosecuted under relevant provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The court held that their actions amounted to aiding and abetting terrorism as well as concealing information that could have assisted law enforcement authorities.

Battujo, a notorious bandit commander, was killed by security forces on June 10, 2026, during a military operation in a forest near Iluke in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State.