Zakaria Garba Sentenced to Death Over 2014 Nyanya Bombing

Zakaria Garba sentenced to death in Abuja for 2014 Nyanya bombing that killed over 70, as court jails four convicts.

Zakaria Garba sentenced to death by Federal High Court Abuja for 2014 Nyanya Motor Park bombing

Abuja — The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced 37-year-old Zakaria Garba to death by hanging for his role in the deadly 2014 Nyanya Motor Park bombing that killed more than 70 people.

Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Tuesday at the conclusion of the special mass trial of terrorism suspects. The trial, usually held in Kainji, Niger State, was moved to Abuja for security and logistics reasons.

Garba, an indigene of Jambutu Park in Jimeta, Adamawa State, pleaded guilty to all five counts filed against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation. Court records show he once sold tea and bread before joining the terror network.

The judge handed down multiple punishments to run concurrently. He gave Garba 35 years each on counts one and two, life imprisonment on count three, and death by hanging on counts four and five.

“May God have mercy on you,” Justice Omotosho told the convict after pronouncing the sentence.

According to the charge sheet marked FHC/KNJ/CR/985/2026, Garba and others still at large conspired in 2014 to plan and coordinate the bombing of Nyanya Motor Park in the Federal Capital Territory. The attack was carried out with improvised explosive devices.

The prosecution, led by the Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, told the court that the bombing was a clear act of terrorism under Section 17 of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.

On count four, the court found that Garba intentionally detonated explosives at the busy transport hub with the aim of causing mass death and serious bodily harm. Over 70 commuters died instantly, while scores of others sustained life-changing injuries.

Count five also attracted the death penalty for participating in an act of terrorism that directly caused the deaths.

Justice Omotosho also sentenced four other convicts who pleaded guilty to separate terrorism charges.

Ali Mohammed, in charge number FHC/KNJ/CR/1020/2026, received 25 years on count one and 15 years on count two.

Isa Saleh was jailed for 20 years in a one-count charge marked FHC/KNJ/CR/973/2026. Tujan Mohammed also got 20 years in charge FHC/KNJ/CR/954/2026.

For Salisu Bala, the court imposed a 20-year sentence on count two but discharged and acquitted him on counts one and three in charge FHC/KNJ/CR/963/2026.

Speaking after the judgment, AGF Fagbemi said the Federal Government remains committed to ending terrorism. “We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nyanya bombing of April 14, 2014, remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest terror attacks on civilians, targeting early-morning commuters at the busy park on the outskirts of Abuja.