Five men have been sentenced to death by hanging in Kano, after being convicted for the brutal murder of 67-year-old Dahare Abubakar. The men, who were found guilty of killing Abubakar in 2023, had accused her of witchcraft. They attacked her while she was working on her farm, beating and stabbing her to death.
Abubakar’s family sought justice, reporting the incident to the authorities, which led to the swift arrest of the suspects in a village located 45 kilometers (about 28 miles) from Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria.
The case captured national attention and sparked widespread discussions about the dangerous consequences of witchcraft accusations, particularly in rural communities where such claims often lead to violent attacks.
The prosecution in the case argued that the five men acted on unfounded allegations of witchcraft against Abubakar. Those who make these accusations often claim that the accused are responsible for misfortunes such as the death of a relative, illness, or other bad luck, typically without any proof.
The court heard that the murder was sparked by a dream experienced by the wife of one of the accused, Abdulaziz Yahaya. In the dream, the wife believed she was being chased by Abubakar, who was wielding a knife. Yahaya, influenced by this dream, organized a group of men to confront Abubakar, ultimately leading to her tragic death.
In his judgment, Judge Usman Na’abba stated that the prosecution had successfully proven its case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. Abba Sorondiki, the lead prosecutor, expressed hope that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others who falsely accuse individuals of witchcraft and resort to violent actions.
Sorondiki pointed out that while accusations of witchcraft leading to violence are not new, it is rare for such a case to result in five individuals being sentenced to death.
“There have been similar cases like this but this is the first time we are seeing up to five people sentenced to death for murder over wrongful witchcraft accusation,” he told the BBC.
The victim’s son, Musa Yahaya, expressed his relief and satisfaction with the verdict, calling the day his mother was killed the worst day of his life. He remarked, “I am happy because they would get the same treatment they meted out to my mother.”
However, the defense lawyer representing the accused, Ma’aruf Yakasai, indicated that his clients planned to appeal the court’s ruling, suggesting they would challenge the death sentence in higher courts.
