Five Men Receive Death Sentence in Nigeria for Fatal Witchcraft Accusation Attack

Kano, Nigeria — A court in Nigeria’s northern Kano state has sentenced five men to death by hanging for the 2023 murder of Dahare Abubakar, a 67-year-old woman they wrongfully accused of witchcraft. The incident, which occurred as Abubakar worked on her farm, has spotlighted the persistent belief in witchcraft and its deadly repercussions in some rural Nigerian communities.

The accused men allegedly attacked Abubakar, subjecting her to a brutal assault that involved beating and stabbing, which led to her death. Following the murder, Abubakar’s family reported the crime to the authorities, leading to the swift arrest of the suspects in a village located approximately 45 kilometers from Kano, the region’s largest city.

In delivering his verdict, Judge Usman Na’abba stated that the prosecution successfully demonstrated the men’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The case has attracted national attention, triggering wide-ranging discussions about the treatment of individuals accused of witchcraft and the need for legal protections against such baseless claims.

Abba Sorondiki, the prosecutor in the case, expressed his hope that this ruling would serve as a deterrent to others who might consider taking the law into their own hands based on unfounded accusations. During the trial, the court learned that one of the accused, Abdulaziz Yahaya, rallied the group to attack Abubakar after his wife, who was ill at the time, claimed she dreamt of being chased by the victim wielding a knife.

This tragic case is not isolated but marks a significant moment as it is unprecedented for as many as five individuals to receive a death sentence for a murder tied to accusations of witchcraft. Sorondiki highlighted the rarity of such a harsh penalty in similar cases, underscoring the court’s intent to put an unequivocal stop to these deadly superstitions.

Musa Yahaya, the victim’s son, relayed the profound grief and turmoil experienced on the day of his mother’s killing, describing it as the worst day of his life. Nevertheless, he expressed a somber satisfaction with the court’s decision, emphasizing that the perpetrators were receiving a just punishment parallel to their actions against his mother.

The defense lawyer, Ma’aruf Yakasai, announced plans to appeal the verdict. He argued that the complexities surrounding cultural beliefs and the interpretation of dreams needed deeper examination in the legal process.

It is important to note that although the death penalty is legal in Nigeria, it is seldom executed, leading many of those sentenced to spend the remainder of their lives on death row. This aspect raises questions about the effectiveness and implications of such sentencing in deterring crime and addressing deep-seated cultural beliefs.

This case sheds light on the broader issues of legal justice, cultural practices, and the tensions between modern law and traditional beliefs in Nigeria, reflecting the ongoing challenges in reconciling these aspects in a way that protects all citizens under the rule of law. As this case continues to unfold, it serves as a crucial indicator of Nigeria’s progress toward legal reforms and human rights protections.