Killings in Northern Nigeria: A moral collapse that demands urgent reflection and action, by Dr. Tukur Madu Yemi
Northern Nigeria is passing through a deeply troubling and frightening moment. Recent violent incidents across the region reveal a harsh reality that can no longer be ignored: homes, families, friendships, and trusted relationships are increasingly becoming spaces of fear, brutality, and bloodshed. This disturbing trend threatens not only physical safety but also the moral, religious, and cultural foundations upon which northern society indeed Nigerian society has long stood.
A stark example occurred on 17 January 2026, when unknown assailants reportedly stormed a private residence in Dorayi Charanchi Quarters, Kano State, and brutally murdered a mother, Fatima Abubakar (35), and her six children inside their home. Reports by The Guardian (Nigeria), Daily Trust, and Punch Newspapers confirmed that the victims were attacked around midday and later taken to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, where they were pronounced dead.
The Kano State Police Command arrested three suspects, including a close relative of the victims, following investigations, with one suspect reportedly confessing to involvement in the crime.
Around the same period in January 2026, Kano residents were again horrified by another incident in which a young girl was allegedly killed and one of her eyes removed, an act widely reported by Daily Trust and Leadership Newspaper. The sheer cruelty of the act deepened public fear and highlighted the erosion of moral restraint within communities.
Similarly troubling was a case reported in late December 2025 / early January 2026 in Gombe State, where a young tailor and trader, barely three weeks after his wedding, was allegedly stabbed to death by his own apprentice in the presence of his mother. Though official police statements were still emerging at the time, the incident was widely circulated by local media and community sources in Gombe and deeply shook public confidence in the once-respected apprenticeship system.
Violence has also emerged among peers and close friends. In Kano State, the police arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly killing his friend during a disagreement, as reported by Daily Post Nigeria. This tragic case illustrates how minor disputes among young people can escalate into deadly outcomes when anger, substance abuse, or poor emotional control are left unchecked.
Beyond Kano and Gombe, similar patterns have been recorded across Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Bauchi, Niger, and Sokoto States. Media organisations such as Premium Times, Channels Television, Daily Trust, The Nation, and Leadership have reported cases between 2024 and 2025 where sons assaulted or killed parents, stepmothers were murdered by children under their care, and guardians were violently attacked by those they trusted.
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Police authorities in several of these states have linked some of these crimes to drug abuse, economic hardship, family breakdown, and prolonged emotional instability.
These incidents are not isolated crimes; they represent a grave moral failure that cuts across religious and cultural lines.
Moral Teachings from Islam and Christianity
Islam, which guides the moral and spiritual life of many northern communities, places the highest value on the sanctity of human life.
The Qur’an states:
“Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption in the land, it is as if he had killed all mankind entirely” (Qur’an 5:32). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also described the unlawful shedding of blood as one of the gravest sins before Allah.
The killing of children, parents, friends, or guardians therefore represents not only a security failure but a profound spiritual and moral collapse.
Christian teachings equally condemn such acts in the strongest terms. The Bible clearly commands:
“You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13), and further teaches that human life is sacred because man is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The New Testament reinforces love, patience, and forgiveness, warning that unchecked anger leads to destruction (Matthew 5:21–22).
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Both religions also strongly emphasise respect for parents and elders. The Qur’an instructs:
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents” (Qur’an 17:23).
Similarly, the Bible commands:
“Honour your father and your mother” (Ephesians 6:2).
When sons raise their hands against parents, apprentices kill masters, or friends turn violently on one another, society is witnessing a breakdown that goes far beyond crime, it reflects a failure in moral upbringing, family supervision, and communal responsibility. Erosion of Trust and the Apprenticeship System
The traditional apprenticeship system in Northern Nigeria, once built on discipline, mentorship, and moral guidance, is now under serious strain. Economic hardship, unemployment, substance abuse, peer pressure, and weak supervision have weakened its foundations. Many young people battle frustration, anger, and emotional instability, while families often ignore early warning signs until tragedy strikes.
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The Way Forward:
These realities demand urgent corrective action. Parents and guardians, Muslim and Christian alike must return to intentional and responsible parenting, closely monitoring behaviour, addressing early signs of aggression or drug abuse, and seeking help when necessary. Both Islam and Christianity encourage consultation, counselling, and early correction, not silence.
Household security must be strengthened. Children, women, and the elderly should not be left alone with individuals whose behaviour raises concern. Dangerous tools and weapons should not be easily accessible, and conflicts should be resolved early through dialogue, mediation, or professional counselling.
Communities must abandon the culture of silence. Neighbours, relatives, and religious congregations must speak up when danger signs appear.
Islam teaches amr bil ma‘ruf wa nahi ‘anil munkar (enjoining good and forbidding evil)
while Christianity calls believers to be their
“brother’s keeper.”
Reporting credible threats is not betrayal; it is a moral obligation to save lives.
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Religious leaders, traditional rulers, and community heads must rise to the challenge. Mosques, churches, Islamiyyah schools, and fellowship centres must address issues such as substance abuse, anger management, respect for life, and peaceful conflict resolution going beyond sermons to mentorship and practical engagement.
Government and security agencies must strengthen community-level intelligence, ensure quick response, and prosecute offenders transparently.
Justice must be firm, fair, and timely. At the same time, citizens must resist mob justice, which both Islam and Christianity strictly forbid.
Conclusion:
The recent killings in Kano, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Bauchi, Niger, and other parts of Northern Nigeria are serious warnings. When families collapse from within and friends turn into killers, society stands at a dangerous crossroads.
Northern Nigeria, and Nigeria as a whole must urgently rethink security, not only through police patrols and checkpoints, but through renewed moral education, strong family supervision, community vigilance, and deep respect for human life, as taught by both Islam and Christianity and upheld by our shared cultural values.
Every life is sacred.
Every parent deserves honour.
Every friend deserves loyalty.
And every home must once again become a place of safety, mercy, and dignity.
Dr. Tukur Madu Yemi
Federal University of Kashere, Gombe
09024252525 / 08066289200
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