BOMBING NYANYA: 12 years later, the court sentenced the terrorist to death by hanging

Twelve years after the terrorist bombing at Nyanya Motor Park, Abuja in 2014, justice has been served against one of the perpetrators of the crime.

This comes as the Federal High Court in Abuja found a 37-year-old man, Zakaria Garba, guilty of taking part in a bombing that left at least 70 people dead, and several others with varying degrees of injuries.

The court on Friday, sentenced him to death by hanging for his involvement in the act.

Judge James Omotsoho, in a judgment delivered at the recently concluded mass trial of suspected terrorists in Abuja, also sentenced Garba to life imprisonment on another of the five counts.

Justice Omotosho sentenced the defendant after he pleaded guilty to five charges adjudicated by the Federal Government against him.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judgment was delivered on Tuesday under charge number: FHC/KNJ/CR/985/2026, filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice.

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The judge sentenced Garba to 35 years in prison on counts one and two, life imprisonment on counts three, and the death penalty on counts four and five.

“May God forgive you,” the judge said.

In the third count, which carries a sentence of life imprisonment, Garba of Jambutu Park, Jimeta Local Government Area in Adamawa, and others who are now at large, allegedly, sometime in 2014, while at Nyanya Motor Park, FCT Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the court, committed the offence.

They were said to have knowingly conspired among themselves “to commit an act of terrorism by planning and coordinating the bombing of Nyanya Motor Park, Abuja, through the use of explosive devices, which resulted in the death of over 70 people and injury to several others.”

The offense is punishable under Section 17 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Amendment) Act, 2013 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.

In the fourth count, which also includes the death penalty, the terrorist, who stated in his confessional statement that he used to sell tea and bread, together with another person who is now at large, is said to have, sometime in 2014, while at Nyanya Motor Park, FCT Abuja, committed the said offence.

They were said to have “knowingly and deliberately caused the detonation of an explosive device at Nyanya Motor Park with the intent to cause death and serious injury to members of the public, resulting in the death of over 70 (Seventy) people and several others injured.”

This offense is punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Amendment) Act, 2013.

Also in the fifth count, which seeks the death penalty, the convict and another person who is now at large is said to have, sometime in 2014, while at Nyanya Motor Park, FCT Abuja, “participated in an act of terrorism that caused the death of over 70 (Seventy) people by detonating explosives.”

According to the charge, “You committed an offense punishable under Section 1(3) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Amendment) Act 2013″.

Responding, the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the Federal Government’s team of lawyers for the prosecution, said that the government was determined to eradicate terrorism and its related activities in the country.

“We will fight with all our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe place for everyone.”