A Kano State High Court has sentenced two men to death by hanging for their roles in the brutal murder of a woman and her six children. The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Nasiru Saminu of High Court No. 11, comes after the defendants were convicted on seven counts of culpable homicide related to the killings that took place on January 17, 2026.
In addition to the death sentence, the court imposed a life term of hard labor for armed robbery. A third individual, Isiyaku Abdul’azeez, was acquitted after the prosecution failed to prove his involvement in the crimes.
Kano State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabir Maude, remarked that the incident marked one of the darkest days in the state’s history, emphasizing the shocking nature of the killings. “January 17, 2026, was a tragic day in the history of Kano State. The killing of seven members of one family is an incident the people of this state will never forget,” he stated.
The conviction followed extensive legal proceedings, including testimony from eight witnesses and the presentation of thirty exhibits. The Attorney General expressed satisfaction with the judgment, highlighting how it validated the prosecution’s case against the two convicts. He also confirmed the government’s readiness to implement the death sentence if the convicts do not appeal within the designated timeframe.
Maude commended the police for their thorough investigation and lauded the Ministry of Justice officials for their contributions to securing the conviction. Although cleared of these charges, Isiyaku Abdul’azeez still faces two separate cases, with verdicts anticipated soon.
The horrific events unfolded during an attack on the family home in Dorayi Chiranci, where Fatima Abubakar and her six children lost their lives. The sole survivor of the attack was the children’s father, Haruna Bashir.
