…Malam Auwal, father of the suspect identified as Umar Auwal, made the demand following the brutal murder of Fatima Abubakar
KANO, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The father of the prime suspect arrested in connection with the gruesome killing of seven members of a family in Dorayi Chiranchi area of Kano metropolis has called on authorities to mete out swift punishment to his son without delay.
Malam Auwal, father of the suspect identified as Umar Auwal, made the demand following the brutal murder of Fatima Abubakar, 35, and her six children, an incident that has triggered outrage and grief across Kano State and beyond.
The victims were reportedly attacked in their home at Dorayi Gidan Kwari, where assailants allegedly led by Umar broke into the residence and carried out the killings in broad daylight last Saturday. The tragedy has drawn condemnation from political leaders, government authorities and members of the public nationwide.
President Bola Tinubu has condemned the killings, describing them as barbaric and unacceptable. In a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President commended the police for the swift arrest of the main suspects and directed that thorough investigations and diligent prosecution be carried out. He also expressed sympathy to the bereaved family over the devastating loss.
The Kano State government has announced its decision to take over the prosecution of suspects arrested in connection with the murders, pledging to ensure justice for the victims.
Umar, who remains in police custody, is accused of killing his aunt, Fatima Abubakar, and her children identified as Maimuna, 17; Aisha, 16; Bashir, 13; Abubakar, 10; Faruk, 7; and Abdussalam, aged one and a half years. Police authorities confirmed that the suspect confessed not only to the Dorayi killings but also to a recent attack in Tudun Yola, where two housewives were murdered and their house set on fire.
Speaking during a radio interview, Malam Auwal, the father of the suspect publicly disowned his son, describing him as a menace to society who deserved capital punishment rather than imprisonment. He said the crime committed against his younger sister and her children was unforgivable, adding that he had completely cut ties with the suspect.
“What he did is condemnable. I distance myself from him completely,” the father said. He further alleged that Umar had previously killed another sister years ago in a similar violent incident. The grieving father insisted that the suspect should not be kept in custody at public expense, arguing that people capable of such crimes should not be allowed to live.
He praised the police for their swift response and said he had already accepted the loss of his son. Auwal also declared that neither he nor his wife would attend any court proceedings related to the trial.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Kano State, Abdulkarim Maude, SAN, confirmed that the state government had assumed responsibility for prosecuting the case following a directive from Governor Abba Yusuf. He described the killings as a shocking and inhumane act that violated the rule of law and human conscience.
Maude assured residents that the prosecution would be handled with transparency, accountability and strict adherence to due process. He commended the Kano State Police Command for its prompt and professional response in apprehending the suspects and urged residents to remain calm while cooperating with security agencies by providing useful information.
Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also reacted to the tragedy, describing the killings as a heartbreaking event that has plunged the nation into sorrow. He commended the police for their swift action and said the arrest of the suspects demonstrated that decisive and intelligence-driven policing could significantly reduce crime.
Obi noted that sustained professionalism and effective security operations would help rebuild public confidence and prove that Nigeria’s security challenges are not insurmountable.
In a related development, President Tinubu also expressed grief over the death of prominent Kano businessman and leader of the trading community, Dr. Bature Abdulaziz, who died over the weekend. The President described his passing as a major loss not only to Kano but to Nigeria’s commercial sector, noting his influence in trade and leadership roles within business associations.
As investigations continue, residents of Kano remain shocked by the brutality of the crime, with many calling for justice and stronger measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
