Adamawa Court sentences 3 men to death for kidnapping Catholic priests

An Adamawa State High Court has sentenced three men to death for the abduction of two Catholic priests. The presiding judge, Justice Christopher Mapeo, delivered the judgement on Thursday.

The convicts, Taledo Demiel, Namomai Medan, and Mikaila Yusuf, were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and harbouring the kidnapped persons.

They were also convicted of negotiating a ransom for the release of the reverend fathers, Matthew Dutsemi and Abraham Sauman, who were abducted in February 2025.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has drawn attention to the multiple capital punishments handed down by courts nationwide this year.

In a statement on Thursday, the secret police reacted to the recent judgment in Adamawa State, revealing that the ruling follows similar death sentences issued for terrorism, armed robbery, and kidnapping in Ekiti, Katsina, Kogi, and Sokoto states.

It also referenced the June 3 judgement by a Federal High Court in Abuja, which sentenced four men to death by hanging for their involvement in the deadly 2022 St. Francis Catholic Church massacre in Owo, Ondo State.