Nigeria: DSS secures death sentence for kidnapper and arraigns IPOB suspects

The Department of State Services (DSS) has secured a death sentence for Ibrahim Usman, also known as Dan Iyali, following his conviction in Sokoto State. Usman was found guilty of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and culpable homicide related to the abduction and killing of three individuals in September 2023. While Usman received a death sentence for homicide, he was also sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping.

In a separate legal matter, the DSS arraigned four suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Abuja. The defendants—Michael Okafor, Chinedu Joseph Chukwudozie, Chibunna Olisa, and Chigozie Olisa—face six counts involving terrorism, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms. The charges stem from the alleged abduction and murder of DSS operative Ekpeyong Asuquo Owoh while he was traveling between Port Harcourt and Awka.

Additionally, in Anambra State, Pastor Harrison Anazodo of Dayspring Assembly was arraigned on seven counts, including murder, abduction, and the unlawful accumulation of wealth through supernatural means. The court has adjourned his proceedings to October 2026, noting his current health condition.