Kano Rearraigns 3 Over Killing Of Mother, 6 Children

Kano State government has re-arraigned a 23-year-old man, Umar Auwalu, and two others before a State High Court over their alleged killing of a housewife, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children in Dorayi Chiranchi Quarters.

The other defendants are Isyaku Yakubu, 40, and Yakubu Abdulaziz, 21.

They are facing a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy, culpable homicide and armed robbery.

The prosecution counsel and Solicitor-General of the Kano State Ministry of Justice, Salisu Muhammad-Tahir, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on January 17, 2026.

He said the defendants, armed with sticks, an iron rod and a cutlass, allegedly trespassed into the residence of the deceased at about 11:30am and robbed her of mobile phones.

The prosecutor added that the victim died during the attack, while her six children were also allegedly killed in the same incident.

Auwalu, said to be a nephew of the deceased, pleaded guilty to the charges but denied parts of the allegations, while the two other defendants pleaded not guilty.

Muhammad-Tahir applied for a summary trial of the first defendant and said the prosecution would call witnesses against the others.

Defence counsel, K.I. Abdulkadir urged the court to compel the prosecution to prove its case.

The presiding judge, Justice Nasiru Saminu, held that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, a plea of not guilty must be entered in criminal cases regardless of any admission by a defendant, and directed the prosecution to prove its case.

He adjourned the matter till April 22 for hearing.

In a related development, the state government also re-arraigned four defendants — Umar Auwalu, Yakubu Dayyabu, Isyaku Yakubu and Umar Ali — over the alleged rape and killing of a nine-year-old girl, Hafsat Auwal.

They are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, culpable homicide, rape and abetment.

The prosecution alleged that the offence was committed on September 11, 2025, at Kwarin Barga in Kumbotso Local Government Area.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty.

Justice Saminu ordered that they be remanded in a correctional facility and adjourned the case till April 27 and April 28 for hearing.

The court also fixed April 20 for their arraignment in another case involving alleged robbery and burning of two housewives at Tudun Yola Quarters in November 2025.

The adjournment followed the decision of the second and third defendants to change their counsel.