JUST-IN: Court Sentences 2 Men To Death For Killing Of Kano Housewife, 6 Children

A Kano State High Court sitting at Bompai has sentenced two men to death by hanging for the murder of a 35-year-old housewife, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children in Dorayi Chiranci, Kano.

The court, presided over by Justice Nasiru Saminu, delivered the judgment on Friday, November 6, 2026, after finding Umar Auwalu, popularly known as Breaker, and Yakubu Dayyabu guilty of the killings.

LEADERSHIP reports the victims, who were murdered on January 17, 2026, were Fatima and her children Maimuna, 17; Aisha, 16; Bashir, 13; Abubakar, 10; Faruk, seven; and Abdussalam, aged one and a half years.

The two convicts were each handed seven death sentences, one for every victim, for culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221 of the Penal Code.

They were also sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour for conspiracy to commit culpable homicide and armed robbery.

However, the third defendant, Isyaku Yakubu, also known as Chebe, was discharged and acquitted by the court.

During the trial, the court heard that the attackers gained access to the victims’ residence after Fatima opened the door for Auwalu, who is her nephew.

The assailants allegedly locked the house and attacked the family with dangerous objects, including a cutlass, a club and a sewing machine, killing all seven occupants.

Neighbours reportedly forced their way into the house after hearing cries for help but found that the attackers had escaped.

Auwalu, identified as the leader of the group, reportedly admitted partial responsibility for the crime but pleaded for leniency.

He also alleged during the proceedings that a herbalist identified as Thomas had supplied him with incense and instructed him to continue carrying out similar attacks.

He further attempted to exonerate his co-defendants, claiming that he mentioned their names following police torture. However, the court rejected the defence in convicting him and Dayyabu.

Investigations also reportedly linked the suspects to an earlier attack in Tudun Yola in November 2025, during which two women related to Auwalu were killed and their residence set ablaze.

Delivering his remarks, Justice Saminu described the killings as among the most horrifying crimes in the history of criminal justice, expressing concern that the victims were murdered by individuals who were expected to protect them.

The judge said the convicts took advantage of the trust placed in them by the family.

“Seven lives have been lost. Seven human destinies have been terminated. Seven opportunities to experience life with its aspirations and contributions to society have been permanently extinguished,” he said.

Justice Saminu expressed sympathy with Haruna Bashir, the husband of Fatima and father of the six children, who survived because he was away at the market when the attack occurred.

He, however, stressed that the court was required to administer justice based on the law and evidence rather than vengeance.