The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two women linked to a suspected terrorist kingpin to 40 years imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to terrorism-related offences.

Justice Hauwa Yilwa delivered the judgment on Friday, convicting **Safiya Salihu** and **Halima Abdullahi**, identified as the mother and sister of suspected terrorist leader **Kachallah Ibrahim Battujo**.

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

The two women were arraigned on a five-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. They pleaded guilty to counts two, four and five, while the prosecution withdrew counts one and three.

Director of Public Prosecution, Oyedepo Rotimi, SAN, urged the court to strike out the two counts and proceed with convictions on the remaining charges.

According to the charge, the defendants knowingly supported Battujo's activities by communicating with him and passing information through telephone conversations.

Count two read:

 "That you Halima Abdullahi and Safiya Salihu... aided and abetted the activities of Battujo, a known bandit kingpin, and passed information through telephone conversations to the said Battujo, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022."

Safiya Salihu also admitted guilt to count five, which accused her of concealing information about her son's terrorism activities.

Halima Abdullahi pleaded guilty to count four, admitting that she concealed information about firearms allegedly acquired by her brother after seeing the weapons during a visit to his forest camp.

The prosecution had initially accused both women of receiving ₦490,300, allegedly knowing it was derived from terrorism, and of undertaking a sponsored pilgrimage funded with proceeds of terrorism. However, those charges were withdrawn before judgment.

Justice Yilwa sentenced each defendant to 20 years imprisonment on each count for which they were convicted. The court ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning each woman will serve a total of 20 years rather than 40 years.

The judge further directed that both convicts undergo rehabilitation after completing their prison terms.