By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

The Department of State Services (DSS) has secured the conviction and death sentence of a notorious kidnapper, Ibrahim Usman, popularly known as Dan Iyali, for his involvement in the abduction and killing of three persons in Sokoto State.

Usman was sentenced by the High Court of Justice of Sokoto State, sitting in the Sokoto Judicial Division, after being found guilty of offences linked to a kidnapping incident that occurred in September 2023.

The convict was arraigned on a four count charge alongside several accomplices who remain at large. The charges included criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, culpable homicide punishable by death, and voluntarily causing grievous hurt without provocation.

The court held that the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to Usman’s conviction and the imposition of the death sentence.

The DSS described the judgment as a significant breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping and violent crime, reaffirming its commitment to working with other security agencies to ensure that perpetrators of criminal activities are brought to justice.

Security experts have noted that the conviction sends a strong message to criminal elements operating across the country, particularly those involved in kidnapping and related violent crimes.

Authorities have also intensified efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects who are still on the run, while urging members of the public to continue providing useful information that could assist security agencies in tackling criminality and enhancing public safety.