Five Men Sentenced to Death in Nigeria Over ‘Witchcraft’ Murder

In a landmark ruling, five men in Nigeria’s Kano State have been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of 67-year-old Dahare Abubakar, whom they accused of witchcraft. The convicted men brutally attacked Ms. Abubakar while she was working on her farm, beating and stabbing her to death in 2023.

The case gained national attention in Nigeria due to the growing concerns over mob justice and witchcraft accusations, particularly in rural areas. Many communities still hold deep-rooted beliefs that misfortunes such as illness, death, or economic hardship are caused by individuals practicing witchcraft. These accusations often lead to violent attacks, with victims rarely getting justice. However, this case in Nigeria marks a significant departure from past incidents, as the Nigerian legal system has swiftly convicted and sentenced the perpetrators.

Court Delivers Landmark Ruling on Witchcraft-Related Murder

During the trial, Judge Usman Na’abba ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The court heard that one of the accused, Abdulaziz Yahaya, acted on a dream in which his sick wife claimed she saw Ms. Abubakar pursuing her with a knife. Yahaya then organized a group of men to confront Ms. Abubakar, leading to her brutal murder.

The prosecution, led by Abba Sorondiki, argued that the defendants’ actions were premeditated and unjustifiable. He emphasized that the ruling should serve as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to resort to violence based on unfounded accusations. “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 accusations,” Sorondiki told the opitanglobamedia news

Justice for the Victim’s Family Amidst Rising Concerns in Nigeria

For the victim’s family, the ruling was a long-awaited moment of justice. Musa Yahaya, Ms. Abubakar’s son, described the day his mother was killed as the worst of his life. Speaking after the court’s decision, he expressed relief, stating, “I am happy because they would get the same treatment they meted out to my mother.” His words reflect the deep pain and suffering endured by families of those wrongfully accused and murdered over baseless superstitions.

The case has reignited discussions on the dangers of witchcraft accusations in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where traditional beliefs often clash with modern legal principles. Human rights advocates have called for more stringent laws and community awareness programs to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Death Penalty in Nigeria: A Rarely Enforced Punishment

While the court has sentenced the five men to death by hanging, Nigeria rarely carries out executions. Most convicts on death row spend the rest of their lives in prison due to the slow and often inconsistent implementation of capital punishment in Nigeria. Legal experts argue that this could be the fate of the convicted men unless authorities move forward with enforcing the sentence.

Meanwhile, defense lawyer Ma’aruf Yakasai has stated that his clients plan to appeal the verdict. If the appeal is upheld, the case could drag on for years, prolonging the quest for final justice. Regardless of the outcome, this ruling marks a critical step in addressing the rising trend of violence fueled by superstitious beliefs in Nigeria, setting a legal precedent that wrongful witchcraft accusations will no longer go unpunished.