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A farmer and father of eight, Malam Mele Modu, from Abara village in Borno State, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for failing to report the activities of Boko Haram members to security agencies.

The Federal High Court in Abuja handed down the sentence on Friday after Modu admitted that he failed to provide information that could have helped security agencies arrest and prosecute the terrorists operating in his community.

Modu was among 47 suspected terrorists brought before Justice Binta Nyako by the Federal Government for trial.

He faced a four-count charge bordering on membership of Boko Haram, providing support to terrorists by harvesting beans for them on a farm, and concealing information about their activities.

Although the convict denied three of the four charges, he admitted that he failed to assist the Federal Government by providing information that could have helped curb the terrorists’ unlawful activities.

During his arraignment, Modu told the court that he was afraid to report the group because he feared they would kill him.

However, the court rejected his explanation, ruling that it was not a valid defence under Section 8(1) and (b) of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2013.

Efforts by his counsel, Mr Dauda Hassan, to secure his release on the grounds that he feared being killed by the terrorists were unsuccessful.

Justice Nyako subsequently found Modu guilty of violating Section 8(1) and (b) of the terrorism law and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment.

The court, however, directed that the sentence should take effect from 2016, when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested him.

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