A Magistrate Court in Kano has ordered the remand of three men accused of killing a woman and her six children in Dorayi Chiranci, saying it lacks jurisdiction to try the case.
The suspects—Umar Auwal, Yakubu Dayyabu and Isiyaku Yakubu—were presented before Magistrate Court No. 2, presided over by Magistrate Auwal Yusuf, on charges bordering on culpable homicide and armed robbery.
While hearing the case, the court held that the alleged offences were beyond its powers, noting that a magistrate court cannot hear murder-related cases.
“The court does not have jurisdiction to entertain the matter,” the magistrate said, ordering that the suspects be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice from the Kano State Ministry of Justice.
According to the charge sheet, the incident occurred on January 17, 2026, when the suspects allegedly attacked the residence of Malam Haruna Bashir in Dorayi Chiranci.
Prosecutors told the court that during the attack, Fatima Abubakar and her six children were killed, while two mobile phones were stolen.
The prosecution also alleged that the suspects were in possession of dangerous weapons at the time of the attack.
Following the ruling, the magistrate adjourned the case to February 11 to await advice from the Ministry of Justice on how the case will proceed.
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