The DSS seventh death sentence in 2026 has been reported following an Adamawa State High Court judgment sentencing three men to death over the kidnapping of two Catholic priests, Reverend Fathers Matthew Dutsemi and Abraham Sauman. The judgment, delivered by Justice Christopher Mapeo on Thursday, October 22, adds another case to the Department of State Services‘ reported series of successful prosecutions involving serious security offences.
The defendants, identified as Taledo Demiel, Namomai Medan and Mikaila Yusuf, were convicted over their involvement in the abduction of the priests in February 2025. Their sentencing brings the number of death-sentence cases attributed to the DSS in 2026 to seven, according to information published about the judgment.
Adamawa Court Sentences Three Men Over Priests’ Kidnapping
The Adamawa State High Court convicted the three defendants of offences connected to the kidnapping of the two Catholic priests.
The reported charges included criminal conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, harbouring a kidnapped person and negotiating to receive ransom for the victims’ release.
Justice Christopher Mapeo delivered the judgment on October 22, sentencing the defendants to death following their convictions.
The case dates back to February 21, 2025, when the priests were abducted in Adamawa State. The incident prompted a security operation that eventually led to their rescue.
Catholic Priests Rescued Without Ransom
The kidnapping ended with the rescue of both priests on March 8, 2025, according to an official statement issued by the Nigeria Police Force on March 10.
The police identified the victims as Reverend Father Abraham Samman and Reverend Father Matthew David Dusami, serving in the Catholic dioceses of Yola and Jalingo, respectively.
According to the police account, security operatives began rescue efforts after receiving reports of the kidnapping. The operation involved searches targeting suspected criminal hideouts across the state.
The police also announced the arrest of Tahamado Jonathan Demian, a 34-year-old suspect, in connection with the incident.The official statement confirmed that the priests were rescued unharmed and that no ransom was paid for their release. They were subsequently taken to a hospital for medical attention.
The police further reported recovering a locally fabricated firearm, ammunition, a handset and SIM cards during the investigation. Efforts to apprehend other suspected members of the kidnapping gang were ongoing when the statement was issued.
These details provide important context for the later prosecution, although the police announcement alone does not establish the individual criminal responsibility of the three men convicted in October 2026.
DSS Records Seventh Death-Sentence Case in 2026
The Adamawa judgment has been described as the seventh death-sentence case secured by the DSS in 2026.
Other cases reported during the year involved courts in Ekiti, Abuja, Katsina, Kogi and Sokoto, with convictions relating to kidnapping, terrorism, arms-related offences and murder.
On May 20, an Ekiti State High Court reportedly sentenced Ibrahim Abubakar and Abdullahi Abubakar to death for kidnapping.
On June 3, four men were sentenced to death by a Federal High Court in Abuja over their involvement in the June 2022 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Subsequent cases included the sentencing of Hauwa’u Mukhtar in Katsina on June 15 and Jibrin Halilu in Kogi on June 16.
On June 22, a Sokoto State High Court sentenced three men over terrorism and arms-related offences. Another death sentence followed in Sokoto on September 28, when Ibrahim Usman, also known as Dan Iyali, was sentenced over a case involving kidnapping and the killing of three people.
The Adamawa ruling is the latest case in this reported sequence. However, the circumstances and charges differ across the cases, and each judgment must be assessed on its own evidence and legal findings.
What Happens After the Death Sentence?
The sentencing of the three men marks a significant development in the prosecution of the Adamawa kidnapping case. However, a death sentence does not mean an execution has taken place.
The complete judgment would also help clarify the court’s findings on each charge and the legal basis for the sentences.
The case highlights the judicial consequences of kidnapping and associated offences in Nigeria. It also brings renewed attention to the abduction of religious workers and the security risks faced by communities across the country.
With three men sentenced to death over the kidnapping of Reverend Fathers Matthew Dutsemi and Abraham Sauman, the Adamawa ruling adds to the reported series of DSS-linked death-sentence cases in 2026.
