Five convicted of murdering woman accused of witchcraft in Nigeria

A court in Kano state, Nigeria, sentenced five men to death by hanging for the brutal 2023 killing of a woman they accused of practicing witchcraft.

The victim, 67-year-old Dahare Abubakar, was attacked while tending to her farm. The assailants beat and stabbed her to death, believing she was responsible for misfortunes in their community.

Authorities swiftly arrested the suspects in a village about 45km from Kano, the largest city in northern Nigeria. The case sparked nationwide discussions on the dangers of witchcraft allegations, which continue to result in violent attacks, particularly in rural areas.

Judge Usman Na’abba, delivering the verdict, stated that the prosecution had provided indisputable evidence against the accused.

Prosecutor Abba Sorondiki expressed hope that the ruling would serve as a deterrent. “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,” he told the BBC.

The court learned that the attack stemmed from a dream. One of the accused, Abdulaziz Yahaya, claimed his ailing wife had dreamt that Ms. Abubakar was chasing her with a knife. Convinced that the elderly woman was the cause of his wife's illness, Yahaya rallied a group to confront her, leading to her tragic death.

The victim’s son, Musa Yahaya, expressed relief at the court’s decision. "I am happy because they would get the same treatment they meted out to my mother," he said.

Meanwhile, defense lawyer Ma’aruf Yakasai announced plans to appeal the ruling.

Although the court has imposed the death penalty, executions are rarely carried out in Nigeria. Many death row inmates remain imprisoned for life without their sentences being enforced.