Nigeria sentences three men to death for abducting two priests
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Pmnewsnigeria
An Adamawa State court sentenced Taledo Demiel, Namomai Medan and Mikaila Yusuf to death for their roles in the abduction of two Catholic priests, Matthew Dutsemi and Abraham Sauman, in February 2025. Judge Christopher Mapeo found them guilty of several offences linked to kidnapping and armed robbery, Pmnewsnigeria reported.
Three men were sentenced to death in Nigeria on Thursday, 22 October, for their part in the abduction of two Catholic priests, Matthew Dutsemi and Abraham Sauman, in Adamawa State in February 2025. Judge Christopher Mapeo of the Adamawa State High Court found Taledo Demiel, Namomai Medan and Mikaila Yusuf guilty of conspiracy to kidnap, armed robbery and negotiating a ransom, the Nigerian outlet Pmnews reported.
The sentences bring to seven the number of death sentences secured in 2026 by the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria’s domestic intelligence agency, in kidnapping and terrorism cases, according to Pmnews. The three defendants were also found guilty of harbouring an abducted person and taking part in negotiations for his release.
On 28 September, a court in Sokoto State sentenced Ibrahim Usman, also known as Dan Iyali, to death for his involvement in the murder of three abducted people. Other death sentences have been handed down this year in Ekiti, Ondo, Katsina, Kogi and Sokoto states, including against four men involved in the June 2022 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, which killed several dozen worshippers, Pmnews reported.
