Kano Woman Faces Court Over Co-Wife's Alleged Beheading

A Kano Magistrates' Court has commenced proceedings against Safiya Usaini, a woman accused of the brutal murder and beheading of her co-wife, Safiya Saleh. The tragic incident reportedly occurred following an accusation by Ms. Usaini that the deceased was spying on her while she was in the bathroom.

The suspect appeared before Magistrate Auwal Yusuf's court after the police concluded their investigation into the grave allegations. Barrister Muhammad Aliyu Umar, the prosecuting counsel, formally presented Safiya Usaini and read the charge of culpable homicide against her.

However, the court declared that it lacked the necessary jurisdiction to adjudicate a murder case. Consequently, the prosecutor requested an adjournment to facilitate the process of obtaining legal advice from the government concerning the subsequent legal steps. The court approved this request, adjourning the case until September 30, 2026, for further mention.

Magistrate Yusuf ordered that the accused, Safiya Usaini, be remanded in a correctional centre pending the continuation of the case. Reports indicate that Safiya Usaini allegedly attacked and beheaded her co-wife, Safiya Saleh, using a machete in Loko, an area within the Takai Local Government Area of Kano State. The alleged motive for the crime was the suspect's anger over claims that her co-wife had spied on her during her time in the bathroom.