Give Terrorists Capital Punishment –MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has rejected the life sentences handed down to two notorious terrorists last week, insisting that convicted terrorists should receive capital punishment to serve as a deterrent to others.

The Executive Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said in a statement on Wednesday that it is dangerous to keep convicted terrorists in prison because of the deadly networks they maintain, which could be used to organise jailbreaks.

“Two notorious terrorists were sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday, July 20, 2026. Justice Emeka Nwite handed down the sentences after convicting Abubakar Abba, popularly known as Abu Baraa, and Mahmud Usman, also known as Mahmuda, for terrorist activities.

“We reject this judgment for being too lenient, too dangerous, and grossly disproportionate to the gravity of their crimes. These are hardened and merciless criminals who should be eliminated without delay. A good surgeon does not hesitate to amputate a rotten limb to save the rest of the body.

“We are of the opinion that terrorists who execute their captives, traumatise families and entire communities, and subject their victims to inhuman treatment deserve capital punishment. It is dangerous to keep terrorists in prison, whether temporarily or indefinitely, because of the deadly networks they use to organise jailbreaks.

“They are no longer human beings. It is dangerous to keep them with other inmates if we do not want them to radicalise ordinary prisoners and turn them into terrorists like themselves,” Akintola said.

Akintola said it appeared that the Nigerian authorities had yet to learn from past experiences, noting that the terrorists responsible for the recent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, had demanded the release of the same two terrorists as a condition for freeing their victims.

“That should have sounded a red alert to the authorities that terrorists are taking advantage of the democratic environment to undermine our values. Those who deprive others of the dividends of democracy do not deserve to enjoy those same benefits. Terrorists have no claim to fundamental human rights.

“We therefore demand the death penalty for any terrorist found guilty of active participation in terrorist attacks.

“In view of the several audacious attacks on correctional facilities and the tendency of terrorists to coordinate attacks from prison, we also demand that terrorists sentenced to death should be executed within seven days of the judgment.

“The Federal Government should put all the necessary legal mechanisms in place to ensure that due process is followed in this regard,” Akintola said.