A Jigawa State High Court has sentenced four individuals to death by hanging for their roles in the murder of 30-year-old Salamatu Musa, who was accused of witchcraft.
Cyber Reporters gathered that the convicts, who include a husband, wife, the wife’s brother, and her sister, were found guilty of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
The accused, identified as Hassan Isah, Adama Yahaya, Abdullahi Yahaya, and Maryam Daso Yahaya, all residents of Kwan-Dole Village, were arrested and prosecuted in 2019.
The court heard that they conspired to attack Salamatu Musa with a stick, leading to her death, allegedly due to their belief that she was a witch responsible for the death of their son.
Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin-Kudu ruled that the accused were guilty of committing the offense with full knowledge of its probable consequence, death.
The court sentenced them to six years imprisonment each for criminal conspiracy and death by hanging for culpable homicide.
The prosecution presented five witnesses, a medical report, and the convicts’ confessional statements, which convinced the court of their guilt under Sections 97 and 221(b) of the Penal Code Laws.
The convicts have been granted 90 days to file an appeal against the judgment.
