Landmark Ruling Sparks Debate on Witchcraft-Related Killings
In a rare and historic ruling, a Kano state court has sentenced five men to death by hanging for the 2023 murder of a woman falsely accused of witchcraft.
Brutal Killing Over Superstition
The 67-year-old victim, Dahare Abubakar, was viciously attacked, beaten, and stabbed to death while working on her farm in a village 45km from Kano, Nigeria’s largest northern city.
Her murder was reportedly triggered by a dream. The sick wife of one of the accused, Abdulaziz Yahaya, allegedly dreamt that Ms. Abubakar was chasing her with a knife. Believing this to be a sign of witchcraft, Yahaya rallied a group of men, leading to the brutal attack on the elderly woman.
Justice Delivered
Delivering the landmark verdict, Judge Usman Na’abba ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Prosecutor Abba Sorondiki expressed hope that the ruling would serve as a deterrent against mob justice and wrongful witchcraft accusations, which remain prevalent in rural Nigeria.
“This is the first time we are seeing up to five people sentenced to death for murder over a wrongful witchcraft accusation,” Sorondiki told the BBC.
A Son’s Relief
The victim’s son, Musa Yahaya, welcomed the ruling, describing the day his mother was murdered as the worst day of his life.
“I am happy because they would get the same treatment they meted out to my mother,” he said.
Appeal Expected, Death Penalty Uncommon
Defense lawyer Ma’aruf Yakasai has announced plans to appeal the verdict.
Although capital punishment remains legal in Nigeria, executions are rarely carried out, and many convicted individuals spend life on death row.
This case has reignited discussions about superstition-fueled violence and the urgent need for legal reforms to protect vulnerable individuals in rural communities.
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