The Department of State Services (DSS) has concluded plans to appeal recent court judgments that handed prison sentences to three individuals convicted in separate terrorism-related cases, arguing that the punishments do not match the severity of their crimes.

Security sources disclosed that the DSS is challenging the rulings of the Federal High Court in Kano and a Katsina State High Court, maintaining that the sentences are too lenient given the nature of the offences and the weapons allegedly recovered.

The Federal High Court in Kano sentenced Jamilu Ibrahim to 32 years in prison and Rayya Haruna to 10 years after separate convictions on terrorism-related charges. In a similar case, the Katsina State High Court sentenced an 80-year-old village head, Audu Adamu Tubali of Salihawa in Safana Local Government Area, to 10 years’ imprisonment.

According to the DSS, the suspects were apprehended during separate operations that reportedly uncovered significant caches of arms and ammunition intended for terrorist and bandit groups. 

Ibrahim was allegedly arrested while transporting weapons to a suspected bandit leader identified as Karami, believed to be operating within Katsina State.

The agency claimed that operatives recovered four rocket-propelled grenades and 832 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition for AK-47 rifles from him, insisting that such weapons could significantly bolster criminal networks.

Security officials described the sentences as inadequate, noting that similar cases have attracted harsher penalties. They referenced a recent ruling involving Hauwa’u Mukhtar, who was sentenced to death by a Federal High Court in Katsina State over alleged arms trafficking linked to bandit activities around Zamfara State.

“The Service believes in fairness and will pursue all legal avenues to ensure that justice reflects the gravity of these offences,” a source said, adding that the appeal is part of broader efforts to strengthen deterrence against arms trafficking and terrorism support networks.