A Federal High Court sitting in Wawa Cantonment, Kainji, New Bussa, Niger State, has sentenced a self-confessed Boko Haram bomber to a maximum of 60 years in prison.

The court ordered Abba Umar, 22, to be held in prison until the time “he will be coming out as an old man and lost every energy.”

He was arrested after his bomb-laden vehicle, which he rammed into the fence of Gombe Secondary School Pilot in Gombe State on July 7, 2014 failed to detonate.

The unrepentant convict refused to plead for mercy, instead vowed to return to Sambisa Forest to join forces with other members of the Boko Haram sect whenever he is freed.

He said his preoccupation is to wage a Holy Jihad under the Jama’atu ahli sunna li da’awatu wa Jihad (Followers of the path of the Prophet for preaching and Jihad) under the leadership of Abu Mohammed, Ibn Mohammed and Al-Shekawi and their many deputies in Nigeria.

“My occupation is Islamic warrior and commander in the Islamic Army,” he told the court.

“There are so many warriors and lieutenants under me. Our mission is on the part of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH),” he said.

Following the confessions, the Federal Government Prosecution had asked the court to apply the maximum death sentence against the defendant.

The team contended that the lives of innocent individuals are still at stake whenever he completes a jail term. (Daily Trust)