An Upper Shari'a Court sitting in Kano on Monday sentenced 38-year-old Shafi'u Abubakar to death by hanging for setting a mosque on fire and killing 23 worshippers in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The defendant, who pleaded guilty to all charges, was convicted of culpable homicide, attempted murder, causing grievous hurt, and mischief by fire in connection with the May 15, 2024 incident at Gadan Larabar Abasawa Village.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Malam Halhalatu Khuza'i-Zakariyya ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt based on circumstantial evidence and the defendant's confessional statement.

"The burns on the defendant's hand also indicate he committed the offence. I hereby find the defendant guilty on all four counts," the judge stated.

According to court records, Abubakar poured petrol and set fire to the mosque between 5:05 and 5:20 a.m. while victims were performing their morning prayers. The attack also included an attempt to kill Shu'aibu Ibrahim and Ibrahim Sani by pouring petrol around them and lighting it.

The victims were rushed to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital in Kano, where 23 people later succumbed to their injuries.

In addition to the death sentence for murder, the court ordered 100 strokes of cane for attempted murder, a fine of ₦1,500 for causing grievous hurt, and 50 strokes of cane for mischief by fire.

The judge further directed the state government to seize and sell the defendant's tricycle to fund repairs for the damaged mosque.

Salisu Tahir, Director of Public Prosecution at the Kano State Ministry of Justice, presented seven prosecution witnesses and tendered the defendant's confessional statement in both English and Hausa languages, along with photographs of the victims as evidence.

The defence counsel, Hasiya Muhammad-Imam, had pleaded for leniency and requested that Abubakar be transferred to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Janguza.

The offences contravened Sections 142, 148, 168, and 370 of the Kano State Shari'a Penal Code Law of 2000.

The defendant has 30 days to appeal the judgment.