The father of the prime suspect arrested over the gruesome killing of seven members of a single family in Kano State has publicly demanded that his own son be put to death, describing him as “useless to society” and undeserving of mercy.
The suspect, Umar Auwal, is currently in police custody following the shocking massacre that occurred on Saturday at Dorayi Gidan Kwari in the Chiranchi area of the Kano metropolis. The incident has triggered widespread outrage, grief, and renewed debates over violent crime and justice in the state.
The victims were identified as Fatima Abubakar, aged 35, and her six children, who were brutally murdered in their home. Those killed include Maimuna, 17; Aisha, 16; Bashir, 13; Abubakar, 10; Faruk, 7; and Abdussalam, just one-and-a-half years old. The scale and brutality of the killings have left residents of Kano and Nigerians across the country deeply shaken.
According to preliminary police findings, the attack took place in broad daylight after assailants, allegedly led by Umar Auwal, forcefully broke into the family’s residence. The audacity and timing of the assault have heightened public concern about safety and security in residential areas.
Police authorities have since identified Umar Auwal, who is reportedly a nephew of the deceased woman, as the lead suspect. The Kano State Police Command confirmed that the suspect confessed to carrying out the killings during interrogation.
In a further revelation, the police disclosed that Umar also admitted responsibility for a separate violent incident in the Tudun Yola area of Kano, where two housewives were murdered and their house set ablaze in a recent attack. The confession has intensified fears that the suspect may have been involved in a series of violent crimes prior to the Dorayi tragedy.
In an emotional interview aired on a local radio station, the suspect’s father, Malam Auwal, publicly disowned his son and called on security agencies and the judiciary to dispense justice without delay.
“What he committed against my younger sister and her six children, my wife’s younger sister and her co-wife, is condemnable. I distance myself from him,” Malam Auwal said during the broadcast.
Speaking with visible anger and grief, the father insisted that his son should not be allowed to remain in custody at public expense, arguing that capital punishment was the only appropriate response to such a heinous crime.
“I don’t even want them to waste time on prosecution. Umar and his likes are supposed to be eliminated. They are not supposed to be remanded and fed with taxpayers’ money,” he declared.
Malam Auwal further alleged that the suspect had a long history of violent behaviour, claiming that Umar had previously killed his younger sister several years ago and mutilated her by plucking out her eyes. Although this allegation has not yet been independently confirmed by the police, it has deepened public shock and renewed calls for a thorough investigation into the suspect’s past activities.
The father praised the Kano State Police Command for what he described as the swift and professional handling of the case, noting that the prompt arrest of the suspect had helped to calm public tension and prevent possible reprisals.
“I have sacrificed him already,” he said, adding that neither he nor his wife, the suspect’s mother, would attend any court proceedings related to the case. According to him, the family considers the suspect dead to them because of the magnitude of his alleged crimes.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Command has assured the public that a comprehensive investigation is ongoing and that the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of inquiries. The police also reiterated their commitment to ensuring justice for the victims and their families.
The incident has sparked intense public debate, with many residents calling for stricter security measures, improved intelligence gathering, and faster judicial processes to deter violent crimes. Human rights advocates, however, have urged authorities to ensure that due process is followed, even in cases that provoke strong emotional reactions.
As Kano continues to mourn the tragic loss of a mother and her six children, the case has become one of the most disturbing criminal incidents in recent years, underscoring the devastating human cost of violence and the urgent need for effective crime prevention and justice delivery.
