A Federal High Court in Kano has sentenced a woman, Raya Haruna, to 10 years imprisonment for transporting weapons and ammunition to bandit groups operating in parts of Northern Nigeria.

Justice Simon Amobeda handed down the verdict after finding her guilty on three counts relating to the illegal movement of firearms and the provision of logistical assistance to criminal groups.

The charges were filed under provisions of the Firearms Act and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Haruna was arrested during a security operation in 2024 aimed at disrupting the flow of weapons to armed groups terrorising communities in Kano and neighbouring states.

Since her arrest, she had remained in custody while standing trial before the court.

Delivering judgment, Justice Amobeda ruled that although the convict was not directly involved in carrying out attacks, her role in transporting weapons contributed significantly to the operations of bandits and terrorist groups.

The judge described arms transportation as a critical component of criminal operations, enabling violent groups to launch attacks that often result in deaths, injuries and destruction of property.

He noted that the law criminalises not only acts of terrorism but also the provision of logistics, transportation and material support that facilitate such activities.

The court subsequently imposed a 10-year prison sentence on each of the three counts, ordering that the terms run concurrently from the date of her detention in 2024.

Justice Amobeda also directed that the recovered weapons be transferred to the Department of State Services (DSS) and ordered that the convict undergo rehabilitation and reformation programmes while serving her sentence.

He said the judgment should serve as a warning to transporters and logistics operators against participating in activities that aid criminal networks.