The father of the prime suspect arrested over the killing of seven members of a family in Kano State has called on authorities to ensure his son is punished without delay.
The suspect’s father, Malam Auwal, made the demand following the arrest of his son, Umar Auwal, who is accused of leading an attack that resulted in the death of a housewife, Fatima Abubakar, 35, and her six children in the Dorayi Chiranchi area of the Kano metropolis.
The incident, which occurred at Dorayi Gidan Kwari, has sparked widespread outrage across Kano State and other parts of the country.
President Bola Tinubu has condemned the killings and directed security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter. The Kano State Government has also announced that it has taken over the prosecution of suspects linked to the killings.
Umar Auwal, who is currently in police custody, is accused of murdering his aunt, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children in broad daylight last Saturday. The victims were identified as Maimuna (17), Aisha (16), Bashir (13), Abubakar (10), Faruk (7), and Abdussalam, aged one and a half.
The police confirmed that the suspect allegedly confessed to the killings. He is also accused of involvement in a separate attack in the Tudun Yola area of Kano, where two housewives were reportedly killed and their residence set ablaze.
Speaking during a radio interview in Kano, Malam Auwal publicly distanced himself from his son, describing him as a threat to society and insisting that he should face the maximum punishment.
He said the act committed against his younger sister, her children, and other members of the family was condemnable, stressing that he no longer considered Umar as his son.
Malam Auwal further alleged that Umar had previously killed another family member several years ago, adding that he did not want the authorities to delay justice or spend public funds keeping him in custody.
He commended the police for their swift response and handling of the case, noting that neither he nor Umar’s mother would attend court proceedings during the trial.
