Nigeria:Five men to die by hanging over 'witchcraft' murder

A court in Kano State, Nigeria, has sentenced five men to death by hanging for the 2023 killing of a 67-year-old woman they falsely accused of practicing witchcraft.

The victim, Dahare Abubakar, was brutally attacked while working on her farm, where the perpetrators beat and stabbed her to death. Following the incident, her family alerted authorities, leading to the swift arrest of the suspects in a village about 45 kilometers (28 miles) from Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria.

The case has sparked national discussions on the dangers of baseless witchcraft allegations, which continue to result in violence and killings in some rural communities. Such accusations are often made without evidence, typically blaming individuals for misfortunes such as illness or the death of a family member.

In his ruling, Judge Usman Na’abba stated that the prosecution had presented irrefutable evidence proving the defendants’ guilt. Prosecutor Abba Sorondiki expressed hope that the verdict would serve as a warning against wrongful accusations leading to vigilante justice.

The court learned that the attack stemmed from a dream experienced by the wife of one of the accused, Abdulaziz Yahaya. In her dream, Ms. Abubakar was seen chasing her with a knife. Taking this as a sign, Yahaya rallied a group to confront the elderly woman, which led to her tragic murder.

The victim’s son, Musa Yahaya, described the day of his mother’s death as the worst of his life, expressing relief that justice had been served.

Meanwhile, defense attorney Ma’aruf Yakasai confirmed that his clients intend to appeal the decision.