The social media has reacted with disbelief and anger over the sentencing of Hussaini Ismaila, one of the leaders of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) for alleged terrorism, to 20 years imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite pronounced the sentence in a judgment delivered after Ismaila aka Mai Tangaran pleaded guilty to a four-count terrorism charge brought against him by the secret police.
The prosecution said Ismaila was the coordinator of the 2012 attacks on Police Headquarters in Bompai, Kano State; Mobile Police Base, Kabuga Road, Kano State; Pharm Centre Police Station, Kano State; Angwa Uku Police Station, Kano State, among other places, in which many were injured.
Shortly after his arrest on August 31, 2017, at Tsamiyya Babba Village, Gezewa LGA, Kano State, Ismaila was arraigned on a four-count charge brought under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.
When trial eventually opened, the prosecution called five witnesses including two DSS officials and two eye-witnesses to some of the attacks.
Ismaila, who had earlier pleaded not guilty during his arraignment, changed his plea to guilty after the testimony of the fifth prosecution witness.
Subsequently, defendant’s lawyer, P. B. Onijah from the Legal Aid Council (LAC) pleaded with the court to be lenient with the defendant.
Onijah said Ismaila was remorseful and changed his plea to avoid wasting the court’s time and regretted being involved in terrorism.
Justice Nwite, in his judgment, found Ismaila guilty of the offences charged and sentenced him to 15 years in relation to count one; and 20 years on counts two, three and four.
The judge ordered that the sentences run concurrently, while the sentencing shall begin to run from the date of his arrest, om August 31, 2017.
Reactions have trailed the sentencing, with people wondering why he did not get the maximum.
Comments on Nairaland say:
99thEnemy(m): 5:26pm On Nov 19
20 years only? That means the terrorist will be out in about 10 to continue from where he stopped angry
What nonsense is this? angry angry angry
Xox1945(m): 5:26pm On Nov 19
Can you imagine just 20 yrs why Nigeria
Nwaikpe: 5:26pm On Nov 19
Everyone who was opposing America’s offer to intervene will be very pissed off with this news.
This hero of theirs deserves more than he gets.
Kennitrust(m): 5:26pm On Nov 19
Lol, they will release him secretly
Sergio102(m): 5:26pm On Nov 19
No nah….it should not be done this way.
Beside, he might still be pardoned and recruited into army
Left for me….I will say execution is the best sincerely
Nteogwuija(m): 5:26pm On Nov 19
Hope they won’t attack the judge.
Quote Report 3 Likes Like Share
Pagan
Odingo1: 5:27pm On Nov 19
The northern powers and Tinubu will release him and recruit him in the military.
Quote Report 9 Likes Like Share
Yankee101: 5:27pm On Nov 19
What happened to death sentence?
He has killed people
Why leave him to be broken out of jail in the future?
YellowbaMoslem: 5:27pm On Nov 19
That’s lenient.
We have death sentence for first degree murder in Nigeria, at least life imprisonment for mass murders.
Even as a Yoruba Muslim, I know this is just to make it look like the Government is trying to pass judgment so they deceive Donal Trump.
Normally, the Nigerian Government reinstate terrorists into the military as repentants, but In actually sense, they could be serve as insiders for their comrades still in the bush!
MyDnis: 5:27pm On Nov 19
Not sentence to death? Why are we like this?
Kharol1234: 5:27pm On Nov 19
All this one to save face 20 years in prison for people he has killed, somebody were them suppose hang..
On the left Abuja Federal High Court Jails ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) Leader Hussaini Ismaila for only 20 Years and on the right Sunday Jackson sentenced to death for defending himself against a terrorist who came after his life.
Talking about Terrorism… pic.twitter.com/Fj7EKfwpq6
— She Long (@ShelongGabriel) November 19, 2025
Sunday jackson was sentenced to death for killing Fulani in self defense.
Yahaya Sharif-Aminu was sentenced to death for blasphemy
Nnamdi kalu is facing charges of treason punishable by death
ISWAP terrorist leader gets 20 years for killing thousands
Welcome to Nigeria
— Isaiah Gere (@gere_isaiah) November 19, 2025
Smh… I weep for Nigeria 🇳🇬
Jail term for a terrorist— Tee😎 (@Tojuvike) November 19, 2025
Instead of to kill him, u are handing him a 20 yrs jail term. Tomorrow one clueless president will come and grant them presidential pardon so they can be use as political thugs. Nigeria nah cruise.
— true talker (@HenryNwokedi) November 19, 2025
20 years for a killer
Why can't they do the same to him
This is why the bandits feel like they are untouchable— Blamelessam (@TsadoSamuel6) November 19, 2025
