Kano Court Sentences Two Men to Death for Killing Housewife, Six 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 State.

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.

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

The court handed each convict 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 or Chobe, was discharged and acquitted by the court.

During the trial, the court heard that the attackers gained access to the victims’ home after Fatima opened the door for Auwalu, whom she knew as her nephew.

The attackers allegedly locked the house and assaulted 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 residence after hearing cries for help but discovered that the attackers had fled.

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

He also alleged that a herbalist identified as Thomas had supplied him with incense and instructed him to continue carrying out similar attacks. The allegation was presented during the proceedings and should not be treated as an established finding against the herbalist.