Kano State High Court sitting at Bompai, on Friday, 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.
Presiding judge, Justice Nasiru Saminu, delivered judgement after finding Umar Auwalu, popularly known as Breaker, and Yakubu Dayyabu guilty of the killings.
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.
Each of the two convicts was handed seven death sentences, one for every victim, for culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221 of the Penal Code.
The convicts were also sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour for conspiracy to commit culpable homicide and armed robbery.
But 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’ residence after Fatima opened the door for Auwalu, whom she knew as 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.
