A human rights advocacy organisation, Speak Out for Justice Advocacy Ltd/Gte (SOJA), has condemned the killing of Mrs. Fatima Abubakar and her six children in the Dorayi Chiranchi area of Kano State, describing 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, the group said the killing of a mother and her children had shocked the nation and struck at the core 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 international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory. It stressed that both 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 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 the recurrence of extreme violence, particularly against women and children, points to systemic weaknesses, including poor early-warning mechanisms, inadequate community-level protection and insufficient intelligence gathering. It argued that the responsibility of the state extends beyond prosecuting offenders to preventing foreseeable harm.
The group called on the Kano State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies to carry out a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation and ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice without delay.
It also urged authorities to provide psychosocial support, protection and relief assistance to surviving family members and the affected community, stressing that justice must encompass healing and institutional reforms, not merely arrests.
SOJA further recommended the strengthening of 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 safeguarding women and children.
The organisation emphasised that the victims must not be reduced to statistics, adding that their deaths should serve as a catalyst for accountability and renewed commitment to the sanctity of human life.
SOJA said it stands in solidarity with the victims’ family and the people of Kano State, reaffirming its resolve to continue advocating for justice until accountability is achieved.
