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 convicts, Umar Auwalu, popularly known as Breaker, and Yakubu Dayyabu, were found guilty of the killings by the court, presided over by Justice Nasiru Saminu, on Friday, November 6, 2026.
The victims were murdered on January 17, 2026. They included Fatima and her six children: Maimuna, 17; Aisha, 16; Bashir, 13; Abubakar, 10; Faruk, seven; and Abdussalam, aged one and a half.
The court handed each defendant seven death sentences, one for each victim, for culpable homicide punishable by 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, a third defendant, Isyaku Yakubu, also known as Chebe or Chobe, was discharged and acquitted after the court found insufficient grounds to convict him.
During the trial, the court heard that the attackers gained access to the family’s residence after Fatima opened the door for Auwalu, whom she reportedly knew as her nephew.
The assailants allegedly locked the house before attacking 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 as the leader of the group, reportedly admitted partial responsibility for the crime while appealing for leniency.
He also alleged during the proceedings that a herbalist identified as Thomas had supplied him with incense and instructed him to carry out similar attacks.
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