Kano Mosque arsonist sentenced to death by hanging

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Shafi’u Abubakar, 38, was sentenced on Monday by an Upper Shari’a Court in Kano to 150 canings and death by hanging for setting a mosque on fire and murdering 23 people.

The charges against Abubakar, a resident of Gezawa Local Government Kano, include criminal homicide, attempted murder, and mischief by fire.

According to Malam Halhalatu Khuza’i-Zakariyya’s ruling, only two of the seven witnesses the prosecution called were able to provide testimony that proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Citing Islamic inscription, he claimed that Pw1, Pw2, Pw3, Pw5, and Pw6’s testimony were only anecdotal evidence, adding that they were not there when the tragedy happened; instead, they only heard about it, and some of them only witnessed the mosque fire.

“The court admits the testimony of Pw4, Ibrahim Salisu. He earlier told the court that he did not see the defendant setting the mosque on fire but saw him running. I hereby admit this as circumstantial evidence.” he said.

Additionally, Khuza’i-Zakariyya accepted the testimony of Pw7, police officer Abdullahi Sa’idu, who provided the confessional statement of the defendant.

“The burns on the defendant’s hand also indicate he committed the offence. I hereby find the defendant guilty on all four counts,” he said.

The defendant was sentenced by the judge to 100 canings for attempted murder and execution by hanging for murder.

In addition, he mandated that the defendant pay 50 cane strokes for mischief by fire and a N1,500 fine for causing great harm.

In order to rehabilitate the aforementioned burned mosque, Khuza’i-Zakariyya also directed the state government to retrieve the defendant tricycle and sell it.

”The defendant has 30 days to appeal the judgement,” he said.

Earlier, on May 15, 2024, the defendant committed the crime at Gadan Larabar Abasawa Village, Gezawa Local Government Kano, according to Salisu Tahir, the prosecution counsel and director of public prosecution, or DPP, of the Kano State Ministry of Justice.

He said that when the 23 victims were praying at around 5:05 to 5:20 a.m. on the same day, the defendant entered a mosque in Gadan Larabar Abasawa Village, poured gasoline, and started a fire.

According to Tahir, the defendant tried to murder Shu’aibu Ibrahim and Ibrahim Sani at approximately 5:15 a.m. by dousing them in gasoline and starting a fire around them.

“The victims were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano and 23 people later died”

In addition to presenting seven prosecution witnesses, Tahir also submitted the defendant’s confessional statement in both Hausa and English, along with exhibit photos of the victims.According to the prosecution, the offense was against Kano State Shari’a Penal Code Law, 2000, Sections 142, 148, 168, and 370.

However, the defendant entered a guilty plea to every allegation.

Hasiya Muhammad-Imam, the defense attorney, responded by pleading for Abubakar’s leniency and asking the court to move him to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre Janguza.

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