Five Vigilante Group Members To Die By Hanging Over Extrajudicial Killing

Five members of a vigilante group were on Thursday convicted and sentenced to death by hanging by a Kano State High Court.

The convicts were sentenced by the Chief Judge, Justice Dije Aboki, over the extrajudicial killing of a 17-year-old male, Ahmed Musa.

The five convicted persons who were attached to Sani Abacha Youth Centre include Emmanuel Korau, Elisha Ayuba, Irimiya Timothy, Auwalu Jafar and Mustapha Haladu.

The convicts according to the prosecution lead counsel, Lamido Dinki, committed the offence on January 22, 2022, at Sabon Titi, Panshekara, Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state.

He said on that date at about 10 a.m., the convicts conspired and attacked the deceased, while he was crossing Sabon Titi, Panshekara Road.

Furthermore, the prosecution told the court that the defendants disembarked from a tricycle and started brutalising the deceased, with a long wooden hard club which he attempted to evade.

He added that the deceased was his neck by the first defendant through a long sharp knife in his possession.

He was also said to have been dragged on the floor and bundled into their waiting tricycle and whisked away.

“In the process, the deceased suffered grievous injuries and swollen face,” he said.

He disclosed that the victim was subsequently conveyed to Kuntau Police Division Kano from where he was rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital Kano, but confirmed dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.

The prosecution presented five witnesses to prove his case.

On the other hand, the defence counsel, Ahmad Muhammad, led the five convicted persons, alongside one other person.

The convicts had earlier denied committing the offence when the charge was read to them.

Earlier in their testimony, the defendants claimed that they approached the deceased to arrest him following a complaint lodged against him.

The presiding judge upheld, “I’m fully satisfied with the evidence adduced by the prosecution, Lamido Abba Soron Dinki.”

Furthermore, Justice Aboki commended Dinki’s diligent prosecution, saying, “The prosecution has presented its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“I, hereby, sentence the five defendants to death by hanging.”