Four members of the fearful terrorist group, Boko Haram have been sentenced to life for their role in bomb attacks that killed 19 people in Nigeria in 2012.

Shuaibu Abubakar, Salisu Ahmed, Umar Babagana-Umar and Mohamed Ali were found guilty of masterminding and carrying out attacks on an electoral commission office and a church in Abuja.

This is believed to be the heaviest sentences given to any Boko Haram suspects ever since the Federal government started   to crack the whip on them.

Boko Haram is responsible for a series of deadly attacks across northern and central Nigeria, leaving a lot of people dead and property destroyed.

The convicted men were found guilty of plotting and carrying out attack on the electoral commission in Suleja, Niger state, killing 16 people, and a second attack on a church that killed three others in July 2012 in Abuja.

A fifth suspect was sentenced to 10 years in jail, while a sixth person was acquitted for lack of substantial evidence for his conviction.

Presiding Judge of the case, Billisu Aliyu in summing up of his judgment described how the suspect lack sympathy and respect for human race.

“They used explosives meant for blasting rocks for mining purposes to kill human beings who had done nothing against them, the convicts have shown lack of respect for human life, they deserve to be removed from the society”, Judge Aliyu said.

Boko Haram has been fighting since 2009 to create an Islamic state and implement sharia law across Nigeria.

Amnesty International has said that insurgency of Boko Haram has left more than 3,000 people dead and scores others left with permanent body injuries.

Since May this year, Nigerian forces have been on offensive to flush Boko Haram out of its northern strongholds with presidential backing.

The UK has also outlawed the group under anti-terror laws, with support for the group now considered a criminal offence in the United Kingdom.

President Goodluck Jonathan had wanted to grant an amnesty to Boko Haram by setting up a committee to look into the affairs on how a peaceful dialogue can be achieved but the group refused to lay down their arms compelling the President to resort to military action against them.

Boko Haram is believed to have carried out a wave of bombings and assassinations since 2009, saying it wants to establish an Islamic state across Nigeria.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

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