In a landmark ruling, an Uper Shari’a Court in Kano has sentenced Shafi’u Abubakar, 38, to death by hanging for a deadly mosque arson attack that claimed the lives of 23 worshippers during early morning prayers in Gadan Larabar Abasawa, Gezawa LGA, Kano State.
Justice Halhalatu Khuza’i-Zakariyya, delivering the judgment on Monday, also sentenced the defendant to 150 strokes of the cane for additional charges including attempted murder, causing grievous hurt and mischief by fire under the Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law, 2000.
“The burns on the defendant’s hand indicate he committed the offence,” the judge declared.
The horrific incident occurred on May 15, 2024, between 5:05 and 5:20 a.m., when Abubakar allegedly poured petrol inside the mosque and set it ablaze during Fajr (early morning) prayers.
Key Sentences Imposed:
- Death by hanging for culpable homicide
- 100 strokes of cane for attempted murder
- N1,500 fine and 50 strokes for mischief by fire
- Confiscation and sale of defendant’s tricycle to fund mosque repairs
The court relied on eyewitness testimony, a confessional statement, and photographic evidence provided by the prosecution. Two key witnesses — Ibrahim Salisu (Pw4) and police officer Abdullahi Sa’idu (Pw7) — offered credible testimony that placed the defendant at the scene and confirmed his confession.
Despite a plea for mercy by defense counsel Hasiya Muhammad-Imam, the court upheld the full sentence, granting the defendant 30 days to appeal.
This case marks one of the deadliest instances of religious violence in recent memory in northern Nigeria.
