A Jigawa State High Court has sentenced four people to death by hanging for their roles in the murder of a 30-year-old woman, Salamatu Musa, whom they accused of witchcraft.
The convicts include a husband, his wife, the wife’s brother, and her sister. They were charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. The court found them guilty of beating Salamatu with a stick, which led to her death.
The attack occurred because they believed she was responsible for the death of their son through alleged witchcraft.
The case began in 2019, when the four—Hassan Isah (55), Adama Yahaya (42), Abdullahi Yahaya (35), and Maryam Daso Yahaya (28)—were arrested in Kwan-Dole Village, Mallam-Madori Local Government Area.
After a thorough trial, Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin-Kudu ruled that the accused fully understood the consequences of their actions. He sentenced them to six years in prison for criminal conspiracy and death by hanging for culpable homicide.
The prosecution presented strong evidence, including witness testimonies, a medical report, and confessional statements, which convinced the court of their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The judgment was based on Sections 97 and 221(b) of the Penal Code Laws.
Abbas Rufa’i Wangara, the Director of Protocol and Publicity for the Jigawa State Judiciary, described the judgment as a demonstration of the court’s dedication to upholding the rule of law and delivering justice, regardless of cultural or social beliefs.
The convicts have 90 days to appeal the ruling. Meanwhile, the judgment has sparked mixed reactions, with some people questioning the cultural and legal dimensions of the case.
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