Two Borno farmers jailed for aiding Boko Haram members
Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two Borno State farmers, Manle Modu and Bulama Modu Awaye, to 11 years in prison for their connections to Boko Haram terrorists since 2014.
The two men were prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) on behalf of the Federal Government and pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges.
Modu, a resident of Burari village in Mafa Local Government Area, acknowledged in court that he failed to report Boko Haram activities to federal authorities. Specifically, he admitted to violating Section 8(1)(b) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2013 by not alerting the government to the presence of the terrorists in his village. His defense, which cited the risk to his safety, was dismissed by Justice Nyako, who asserted that such fears do not warrant legal justifications under the terrorism law.
Justice Nyako found Modu guilty, emphasizing that a formal report might have mitigated the terrorists’ activities. Though she sentenced him to 11 years, she ordered that his term should begin from 2016, when he was first detained.
Bulama Modu Awaye, from Maitari village in Bama Local Government Area, faced charges for being a member of Boko Haram, aiding group members by rearing cattle, and neglecting to inform authorities about their presence. He acknowledged his awareness of the terrorists in his community since 2014 but cited fear of retaliation as his reason for not reporting them.
In a ruling similar to that of Modu, Justice Nyako sentenced Awaye to 11 years in prison, with the specific correctional facility to be decided by the Federal Ministry of Interior. Given that he has been in detention since 2016 and is a first-time offender, his sentence will also commence from the date of his arrest.
The two farmers are part of a larger group of 48 suspected terrorists set to stand trial before Justice Nyako in a mass prosecution initiated by the Federal Government.
