22-Year-Old Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Brutal Murders in Kano

In a case that has left many shocked and heartbroken, a Kano State High Court has sentenced 22-year-old Sagir Rijiyar-Zaki to death by hanging for the horrific murder of his stepmother and 8-year-old stepsister. 

According to reports, Sagir unleashed unimaginable violence on January 7, 2023, at Rijiyar Zaki Quarters in Ungogo LGA. The court heard how he fatally stabbed his 25-year-old stepmother, Rabiatu Sagir, in the neck with a screwdriver after a disagreement. As if that weren’t chilling enough, he then strangled his young stepsister, Munawara, using her own scarf. 

The grim details were laid bare by the prosecution, led by Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, who called two witnesses and submitted key evidence that ultimately sealed the young man’s fate. Despite his denial of the charges, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu ruled that the prosecution had proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt and handed down the maximum sentence: death by hanging. 

Sagir, a resident of Kutama Village in Gwarzo LGA, was convicted under Section 221(a) of the Penal Code Law of Kano State, 1991, which deals with culpable homicide punishable by death. 

His defense counsel, Mubarak Abubakar, could do little to save him as the court stood firm on justice for the slain victims. The shocking double homicide has sparked fresh conversations around domestic tensions and mental health, with many calling for deeper societal introspection. 

As the final gavel dropped, the courtroom echoed with silence—a chilling end to a story rooted in betrayal, rage, and loss.