A Kano High Court on Friday sentenced Umar Auwalu and Yakubu Dayyabu to death by hanging for the murder of Fatima Abubakar, 35, and her six children at Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters, Kano.
Auwalu, 23, of Sabuwar Gandu Quarters, and Dayyabu, 40, of Sagagi Quarters, were convicted on nine counts, including conspiracy, culpable homicide, and armed robbery.
The third defendant, Isyaku Yakubu, 21, of Sabon Gida Sharada Quarters, was discharged and acquitted.
Delivering judgment, Justice Nasiru Saminu held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the first and second defendants.
The judge described the killing of the mother and her six children as a horrific crime that challenges the conscience of society.
He stated that the victims were entitled to the protection of their home but were attacked by those expected to protect them, noting that the first defendant was Fatima’s nephew.
“The uncle of the children became a monster. Seven opportunities have been permanently lost for these children to grow into responsible members of society,” Saminu said.
He said PW4, Haruna Bashir, the husband and father of the deceased, has been thrown into anguish, adding that no compensation can restore the lives lost or erase the trauma.
“How I wish there were a punishment heavier than this. My focus is not on vengeance but on justice,” he said.
The judge also sentenced Umar Auwalu and Yakubu Dayyabu to life imprisonment with hard labour for conspiracy and armed robbery.
He also sentenHe further sentenced both defendants to death by hanging for culpable homicide.e mercy on your soul”
Saminu discharged and acquitted the third defendant, stating there was no credible evidence that he conspired with the first and second defendants.
He saiHe noted that although there were telephone conversations between the third defendant and the others, the contents were not established.judge added that evidence showed that Isyaku was at Gano attending a Qur’anic graduation ceremony at the time of the incident.
“Since the content of the conversation has not been proven, it remains mere suspicion,” he ruled.
Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Attorney General of Kano State, Abdulkarim Kabiru-Maude, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on Jan.17, 2026, at Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters, Kano.
Kabiru-Maude stated that on the same date, at about 11:30 a.m., the defendants conspired, armed themselves with sticks, an iron rod, and a sharp cutlass, trespassed into Fatima’s house at Dorayi Chiranchi, and robbed her of two handsets (Infinix and Itel) and N200,000 in cash.
“During the robbery, the defendants struck Fatima with a stick and an iron rod on her neck, and hit her head with a sewing machine, resulting in her death.
“On Jan. 17, 2026, at about 11:30 a.m., Umar and Dayyabu attacked Fatima’s six children—Maimuna, 17; Aisha, 16; Bashir, 13; Abubakar, 10; Faruk, 7; and Abdulsalam Haruna, a toddler—striking them with a stick and stabbing them with a knife and cutlass in the face, body, and head, causing their immediate deaths.
“After killing the children, the defendants threw Faruk and Abdulsalam into a well at the house,” he said.
Umar pleaded guilty to the charges but denied throwing the children into the well. The second and third defendants pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution presented eight witnesses and submitted 30 exhibits, including medical reports from Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, confessional statements, a blood-stained broken iron rod, and blood-stained trousers.
Other exhibits included N200,000 in cash, two handsets, and a flash drive containing an audio-video recording, among others, to support the case against the defendant.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened sections 97, 221, and 298(c) of the Penal Code.
The first defence counsel, Mr. J. I. Musa, and counsel for the second and third defendants, M. S. Baba, presented five witnesses and the defendants to support their case.
Auwalu sought forgiveness from the court, the Kano State Government, the Kano Emirate Council, his family, Nigerians, and the second defendant.
Speaking to reporters after the judgment, the Attorney General commended the state counsel at the Kano State Ministry of Justice for their efforts in prosecuting the case and also praised the judge.
