Terrorism: Woman Bags 20-Year Jail Term Over DSS Charges of Illegal Possession of 302 Live Ammunition

A housewife, Haliru Halima Umar, has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to charges relating to the unlawful possession of 302 rounds of live AK-47 ammunition filed against her by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice Hauwa Joseph Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered the judgment on Friday, sentencing the defendant after she admitted guilt to two of the four-count charges brought before the court.
Although the convict pleaded for mercy and expressed remorse, Justice Yilwa held that the growing menace of banditry has become a major threat to citizens and should not be handled lightly.
During her arraignment, Umar also confessed to supporting acts of terrorism by acting as a courier responsible for transporting ammunition to bandits operating in Plateau State.
At the trial, the first prosecution witness and DSS operative, Fahad Tahir, narrated how DSS personnel arrested the defendant on July 6, 2025, while she was transporting 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition alongside N57,100 cash intended for bandits in Plateau State.
According to Tahir, the defendant made a statement in Hausa at the DSS Plateau Command office after her arrest, admitting that one Alhaji Sani had directed her to Zaria in Kaduna State to obtain the ammunition from another individual.
The witness further stated that Umar was later transferred to the DSS national headquarters in Abuja on August 11, 2025, where another interview session was conducted.
He explained that, in the presence of a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council, the defendant again made a statement in Hausa language admitting ownership of both the ammunition and the cash recovered from her.
Led in evidence by DSS counsel, Dr. Callistus Samson Ezeh, the witness tendered the 302 rounds of ammunition, the N57,100 cash, and the defendant’s statements as exhibits. The exhibits were admitted without objection from defence counsel, Hamza Dantani.
While in open court, the defendant was shown the ammunition and the money and admitted that she was arrested with them.
The charges against Umar included concealment of information about suspected gun-runners, bandits, and kidnappers; providing support for terrorism through transportation of ammunition; attempted support for terrorism; and unlawful possession of firearms ammunition.
Count One accused her of knowingly concealing information about suspected gun-runners and bandits, contrary to Section 16(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count Two stated that she knowingly rendered support for terrorism by transporting 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition, contrary to Section 13(1) of the same Act.
Count Three accused her of attempting to support terrorism through the transportation of the ammunition, contrary to Section 28(1) and punishable under Section 13(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Count Four alleged unlawful possession of 302 rounds of AK-47 live ammunition, contrary to Section 8(1) of the Firearms Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27(1) of the Act.