Five convicted of death after the murder of a woman they said was a witch

Five men were sentenced to death by hung in Nigeria’s cano for the murder of a woman in 2023, accused of witchcraft.

The convicted men attacked the 67 -year -old Dahare Abubacar while she was working on her farm, beating and stabbing her to death.

The family of Dja Abubacar went to the authorities and the suspects were quickly arrested in a village 45 km (28 miles) of the cano -the largest city in Northern Nigeria.

The case has attracted attention across the country and has raised discussions about how people in rural areas continue to be killed after accusations of witchcraft.

Those who make allegations without any evidence believe that those who blame are responsible either for the death of a family member, illness or misery.

Giving his decision, Judge Usman Naaba said the prosecutor’s office had proved his case against the five men beyond reasonable doubt.

Prosecutor Aba Sorondii said he hoped the decision to deter others to make misconduct and then take things in their own hands.

The court heard that the victim had been killed after the sick wife of one of the accused Abdulaziz Yahaya dreamed that she was chased by Gja Abubacar, who was holding a knife.

Then Yahaya organized a group to stand up to G -ja Abubacar, which led to her murder.

“There are similar cases like this, but this is the first time we see up to five people sentenced to death for murder for an unlawful accusation of witchcraft,” Sorondi told the BBC.

The son of the victim Musa Yahaya said that on the day his mother was killed, he was the oldest day of his life and that he was pleased to see how justice was served.

“I’m happy because they would get the same treatment that my mother had affected,” he said.

Defense lawyer Maaruf Jakasai said his customers were planning to appeal the sentence.

The death penalty is rarely committed in Nigeria and convicts often spend the rest of their lives in the prison of death.