SOJA Condemns Killing Of Woman, Six Children In Kano, Calls For Justice

Speak Out for Justice Advocacy Ltd/Gte (SOJA), a human rights advocacy group, has condemned the gruesome killing of Mrs Fatima Abubakar and her six children in the Dorayi Chiranchi area of Kano State.

The organisation described the incident as a grave violation of fundamental human rights and a failure of state protection.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its legal officer, Hameed Ajibola Jimoh, SOJA stated that the killing of a mother and her children had shocked the nation and undermined the values of humanity, justice, and the rule of law.

SOJA noted that the incident constituted a serious breach of the right to life, as guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), as well as provisions of international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.

The group stressed that the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights impose clear obligations on the Nigerian State to protect life and ensure accountability for violations.

The organisation further described the killing of the six children as a gross violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which mandates governments to take all necessary measures to protect children from violence and unlawful death.

SOJA expressed concern that recurring cases of extreme violence, particularly against women and children, point to systemic weaknesses.

These include poor early-warning mechanisms, inadequate community-level protection, and insufficient intelligence gathering. According to the group, the state’s responsibility extends beyond prosecuting offenders to preventing foreseeable harm.

The advocacy group called on the Kano State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other relevant agencies to conduct a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incident.

They urged that all those responsible be brought to justice without delay.

SOJA also urged authorities to provide psychosocial support, protection, and relief assistance to surviving family members and the affected community, noting that justice must encompass healing and institutional reforms, not solely arrests.

The organisation recommended stronger community-based protection and early-warning systems, improved coordination between security agencies and local communities, sustained public education on violence prevention and child protection, and strict enforcement of existing laws protecting women and children.

The group emphasised that the victims must not be reduced to mere statistics, adding that their deaths should serve as a catalyst for accountability and a renewed commitment to the sanctity of human life.

SOJA declared its solidarity with the victims’ families and the people of Kano State, reaffirming its commitment to speaking out until justice is served.