A Kano state high court has sentenced five men to death by hanging for the murder of Dahare Abubakar, a 67-year-old woman, whom they accused of being a witch.
Usman Na’abba, the presiding judge, ruled on Monday that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, convicting Da’luta Ibrahim, Abdulaziz Yahaya, Faisal Yahaya, Ibrahim Abdu, and Ayuba Abdulrahman of culpable homicide.
He said the defendants conspired around 8:30 am on the same day after suspecting the victim of practising witchcraft.
“In the process, the defendants followed her to the farm and stabbed her to death with dangerous weapons,” he told the court.
The prosecution counsel presented four witnesses and submitted two exhibits, including the defendants’ extra-judicial statements and a medical report confirming the victim’s death, while the defendants denied committing the crime.
Ma’aruf Yakasai, the defence counsel, called eight witnesses, including the defendants, to testify on their behalf.