Malam Auwal, father of the prime suspect arrested over the killing of seven family members in the Dorayi Chiranchi area of Kano metropolis, has called on authorities to swiftly punish his son, Umar Auwal, without delay.
Umar, who is currently in police custody, is accused of murdering his aunt, Fatima Abubakar, and her six children in broad daylight on Saturday.
The victims include Maimuna (17), Aisha (16), Bashir (13), Abubakar (10), Faruk (7) and Abdussalam (one-and-a-half years old).
Police confirmed that the suspect has confessed to the killings, as well as a recent attack in Tudun Yola, where two housewives were murdered and their home set ablaze.
Speaking in an interview with Freedom Radio, Malam Auwal distanced himself from his son, describing him as “useless to society” and insisting that he should be executed rather than kept in prison.
“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,” Auwal said.
He further alleged that Umar had killed his younger sister some years ago and plucked out her eyes.
“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 added.
The grieving father commended the police for their handling of the case, saying he had already “sacrificed” his son, and vowed that neither he nor his wife (Umar’s mother) would attend any court proceedings during the trial.
Fatima Abubakar, 35, and her children were reportedly murdered by assailants, allegedly led by Umar, who broke into their residence at Dorayi Gidan Kwari, sparking outrage across Kano and beyond.
Meanwhile, Abdulkarim Kabiru-Maude, SAN, Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, has taken over the prosecution of the alleged gruesome murder of Fatima and her six children.
Briefing journalists on Monday in Kano, Kabiru-Maude said the decision to take over the prosecution of the case was on the directive of Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf.
He promised that the government would spare no effort in ensuring accountability, transparency and strict adherence to due process throughout the investigation and prosecution of the case.
