Kano killings call for soul-searching

The recent gruesome killings of a housewife, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children, including a toddler, in the Dorayi Chiranchi area of Kano have once again raised concern over the spiralling crime wave in our society, especially among the youth.

In broad daylight, Umar Auwalu, 23, was alleged, along with two others, to have entered the house of his aunt and killed her and her six children, aged between 18 months and 17 years. More worrying is the fact that the neighbours did not realise what was happening, despite shouts for help from the victims.

Another worrying issue is that the principal suspect had also confessed to the murder of two women who were related to him in similar circumstances, and no one had ever linked the incident to him, while his father had also accused him of killing his sister some time ago.

Sadly, this is not the first time Kano, and indeed the state, has witnessed such incidents. In 2022, Shafi’u Abubakar set worshippers ablaze inside a mosque in Larabar Abasawa, Gezawa Local Government Area, killing 23, while in 2021, a teacher, Abdulmalik Tanko, abducted his pupil, Hanifa Abubakar, aged five, and later killed her after demanding ransom from her parents.

Kano has also been battling the menace of phone snatchers, especially in the state capital, who are ever ready to stab any of their victims who show resistance. The result is that people no longer feel safe either on the streets or in their houses.

For a city like Kano, this means a lot for its economic and social development. Where residents feel unsafe to move around, one can only imagine the feeling of an outsider coming in to transact business or engage in tourism. In the last few years, the city and its environs have witnessed a surge of youths engaged in drug use, exposing them to crime in order to meet their need for drugs. This is also attributed to high unemployment, which has left many young people idle and ready tools for use by criminal gangs.

We at Daily Trust believe that the authorities have to do more in arresting the situation. They must get to the source of supply of illicit drugs to the city and ensure that they are blocked, and that those connected are arrested and prosecuted. More also has to be done to ensure employment opportunities for the teeming idle youth who daily flock into the city.

The judiciary and those responsible for the prosecution of suspects involved in killings must take appropriate steps to quicken the process. Quick disposal of such cases would assist in deterring future offenders. The governor, on his part, must not hesitate to hasten the execution of such judgments where his consent is required.

It is encouraging that the Kano State Attorney General has already taken over the case to ensure transparent and speedy prosecution, while the governor has promised to sign any death warrant presented to him once the judicial process is over. We sincerely hope he keeps his promise.

But, more importantly, this and similar cases should provide an opportunity for soul-searching. As it has become clear from this and other incidents, those committing these crimes are not strangers. In some cases, they are very close to us. What it means is that we owe it a duty to be our brothers’ keepers. Parents, relations and neighbours have the responsibility of closely monitoring those around them. Our youth need more attention in view of the numerous challenges they face, and no one can do it better than those close to them.

We need to be able to raise the red flag wherever we suspect trouble. Society can only survive if we work together, especially in a country like ours with weak institutions.

We at Daily Trust pray that Allah consoles the bereaved family with the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

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