22-Year-Old Faces Death Penalty for Brutal Murder of Stepmother and Sister in Kano

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Kano State High Court has sentenced 22-year-old Sagiru Rijiyar-Zaki to death by hanging for the savage murder of his stepmother and younger sister. The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, marks a grim conclusion to a tragic family dispute that escalated into a double homicide, shocking the quiet community of Rijiyar Zaki Quarters in Kano.

Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, presiding over the case, declared that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court heard harrowing details of how Rijiyar-Zaki, a resident of Kutama Village in Gwarzo Local Government Area, fatally stabbed his stepmother, Rabiatu Sagir, in the neck with a screwdriver and strangled his sister, Munawara, with her own scarf.

The brutal killings took place on January 7, 2023, at approximately 8:00 p.m., following a heated misunderstanding that spiraled out of control.

Prosecution counsel Lamido Abba-Sorondinki painted a vivid picture of the crime for the court, presenting two witnesses and compelling exhibits that left little room for doubt.

This court finds the defendant guilty as charged and sentences him to death by hanging

According to the prosecution, Rijiyar-Zaki’s actions were premeditated and merciless, violating Section 221(a) of the Penal Code Law of Kano State, 1991, which carries a mandatory death sentence for culpable homicide. Despite the overwhelming evidence, the defendant denied the charges, offering no substantial defense to counter the prosecution’s case.

“The evidence presented was credible and convincing,” Justice Adamu-Aliyu stated in her ruling. “This court finds the defendant guilty as charged and sentences him to death by hanging.” The courtroom fell silent as the weight of the verdict settled over those in attendance, a stark reminder of the irreversible consequences of such violent acts.

The case has sparked widespread discussion across Kano and beyond, with many expressing horror at the brutality inflicted upon family members. Residents of Rijiyar Zaki Quarters, where the crime occurred, described Rijiyar-Zaki as a quiet individual, making the ferocity of his actions all the more incomprehensible.

The motive behind the killings remains murky, though the prosecution hinted at a domestic dispute that pushed the young man to the edge.

Rijiyar-Zaki’s fate now hangs in the balance, pending any potential appeal or gubernatorial pardon, though the latter seems unlikely given the gravity of his offenses.

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