Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced a 37-year-old man, Zakaria Garba, to death by hanging for his involvement in the deadly 2014 Nyanya Motor Park bomb explosion that claimed the lives of more than 70 people and left several others injured.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Friday during proceedings in the ongoing terrorism trial involving several suspects linked to insurgent activities in Nigeria.
Garba was convicted after pleading guilty to a five-count charge bordering on terrorism and participation in the devastating attack that rocked the Federal Capital Territory in April 2014. The charges were filed against him by the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
According to the prosecution, Garba played a role in the planning and execution of the bombing at the busy Nyanya Motor Park, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Nigeria’s history. The explosion killed scores of commuters and caused widespread destruction, sending shockwaves across the country.
Following his guilty plea, the court handed down various sentences on the separate counts. Garba received 35 years imprisonment on counts one and two, life imprisonment on count three, and death by hanging on counts four and five.
The court held that the evidence before it established the convict’s involvement in acts of terrorism that resulted in the loss of innocent lives and threatened national security.
During the proceedings, prosecutors told the court that Garba admitted his involvement in the attack and provided details of his activities in connection with other members of the terrorist network.
Justice Omotosho, while delivering the judgment, emphasized the gravity of the offence and the devastating impact the attack had on victims, their families, and the nation as a whole.
The sentencing is part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to prosecute individuals linked to terrorism and insurgency across the country. Several other terrorism suspects who pleaded guilty to related offences have also received various prison terms.
The Nyanya Motor Park bombing remains one of the most tragic terrorist incidents in Nigeria’s recent history. The attack occurred during the morning rush hour on April 14, 2014, when a powerful explosive device detonated at the crowded motor park, resulting in massive casualties and injuries.
