Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
A Kano State High Court has sentenced two men, Umar Auwalu and Yakubu Dayyabu, to death by hanging for the murder of 35-year-old Fatima Abubakar and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi, Kano State.
Justice Nasiru Saminu of High Court No. 11 delivered the judgment on Friday, November 6, 2026, after finding the two defendants guilty of culpable homicide over the killing of the seven family members on January 17, 2026.
The court also sentenced both men to life imprisonment with hard labour for conspiracy and armed robbery.
However, a third defendant, identified in reports as Isiyaku Yakubu, was discharged and acquitted after the court found insufficient evidence linking him to the offences.
The judgment brings a significant development in a case that shocked residents of Kano and attracted widespread public attention following the killing of the mother and her six children in their home.
Kano Court Delivers Death Sentence Against Two Defendants
The two convicts, Umar Auwalu, popularly known as Breaker, and Yakubu Dayyabu, also known as Wawo, were found guilty following the prosecution’s presentation of evidence during the trial.
According to reports from the proceedings, the court considered the testimonies of eight prosecution witnesses and 30 exhibits before reaching its decision.
The prosecution was led by Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude, alongside Barrister Salisu Muhammad Tahir.
The judge described the killing of Fatima and her children as a horrific crime that challenged the conscience of society.
In remarks reported after the judgment, Justice Saminu expressed the gravity of the offences, saying he wished there were a punishment heavier than death.
He emphasised that the court’s responsibility was to administer justice rather than vengeance.
The sentences were imposed on the two defendants for the seven counts of culpable homicide, corresponding to the seven people killed in the attack.
How Fatima Abubakar and Her Six Children Were Killed
The killings occurred on January 17, 2026, at the family’s residence in the Dorayi Chiranchi area of Kano.
Fatima, 35, was killed alongside her six children:
- Maimuna, 17.
- Aisha, 16.
- Bashir, 13.
- Abubakar, 10.
- Faruk, seven.
- Abdussalam, approximately one and a half years old.
According to the prosecution’s account presented in court, the defendants allegedly entered the residence armed with dangerous objects, including sticks, an iron rod and a cutlass.
The prosecution said the attackers assaulted Fatima and her children, resulting in their deaths.
The Attorney-General also told the court that the attackers robbed the family of N200,000 and two mobile phones.
The prosecution maintained that the evidence established the involvement of the two convicted men in the killings and the robbery.
The case attracted considerable public concern because the victims included six children, among them a toddler.
Prosecution Presents Witnesses and Evidence
During the trial, the prosecution presented eight witnesses and tendered 30 exhibits to establish its case against the defendants.
According to reports by The Guardian and TheCable, the exhibits included medical reports, confessional statements, a bloodstained iron rod, clothing, cash, mobile phones and audio-visual recordings.
The prosecution argued that the evidence demonstrated the defendants’ involvement in the offences and urged the court to convict them.
The defendants, however, had different positions during the proceedings.
Reports indicated that Auwalu admitted involvement in the crime but disputed some aspects of the prosecution’s account. Dayyabu denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
The defence also presented witnesses and challenged aspects of the prosecution’s case.
After considering the evidence presented by both sides, Justice Saminu found Auwalu and Dayyabu guilty.
Third Defendant Discharged and Acquitted
In a separate decision, the court discharged and acquitted the third defendant, identified as Isiyaku Yakubu in some reports.
The judge reportedly held that the prosecution had not presented sufficient credible evidence to establish his involvement in the offences.
The decision highlights the court’s responsibility to assess the evidence against each defendant individually rather than automatically treating all accused persons as equally responsible.
However, Kano State Attorney-General Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude disclosed after the judgment that the acquitted defendant was still facing two separate cases, with judgments expected in those proceedings.
His acquittal in the Dorayi killings case does not amount to a determination of those separate cases.
Kano Government Reacts to the Judgment
Following the judgment, Maude welcomed the convictions, saying they vindicated the prosecution’s position on the involvement of the two men in the killings and armed robbery.
He commended the presiding judge, the police investigators and officials of the Kano State Ministry of Justice for their roles in the prosecution.
The Attorney-General also indicated that the state government was prepared to pursue the implementation of the death sentences if the convicts did not exercise their right of appeal within the period provided by law.
The position reflects the government’s determination to pursue the case through the legal process.
Why the Judgment Matters
The killings of Fatima Abubakar and her six children remain a deeply disturbing case involving the loss of seven lives within one household.
Beyond the sentences imposed, the judgment underscores the importance of criminal investigations, credible evidence and judicial accountability in addressing serious crimes.
For Kano residents and the wider Nigerian public, the case also raises continuing concerns about the safety of families in their homes and the protection of vulnerable children.
The acquittal of the third defendant is equally significant because criminal responsibility must be established through evidence against each accused person.
A conviction cannot properly rest on public anger or association with other defendants. The court must determine whether the prosecution has proved the case against each individual.
What Happens Next?
Although the Kano State High Court has delivered its judgment, the legal process may continue if the convicted men exercise their right to appeal.
Any appeal would provide an opportunity for a higher court to review the convictions and sentences in accordance with the law.
The Kano State Government has indicated its readiness to pursue the implementation of the sentences, subject to the applicable legal process.
As of the latest reports on November 7, 2026, no appeal by either convict had been confirmed.
The case therefore remains an important development in Kano’s criminal justice system, with further legal proceedings dependent on whether the defendants challenge the judgment.
For the family and relatives left behind, however, no court judgment can restore the seven lives lost in the January 2026 attack.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Punch Newspapers – Two to Hang for Killing Kano Mother, Six Kids
- TheCable – Court Sentences Two Men to Death for Killing Woman, Her Six Children in Kano
- The Guardian Nigeria – Two to Die by Hanging for Killing Kano Housewife, Six Children
- Tribune Online – Kano Court Sentences Two Men to Death by Hanging
