Kano Court Jails Man for 20 Years for Raping 40 Women, Including an 85-Year-Old Woman

A Kano State High Court has handed down a 20-year prison sentence to a 32-year-old man who gained notoriety for breaking into homes at night while naked to sexually assault women and young girls across Kiru Local Government Area. The convict, Muhammad Zulfalalu, popularly known as “Mai Siket,” was found guilty on a nine-count charge bordering on rape and housebreaking after he pleaded guilty to violating an 85-year-old grandmother in her own home. Justice Aisha Mahmoud, who presided over the case, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, delivering a verdict that has been hailed by the Kano State government as a landmark moment in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence in the region.

According to the prosecution counsel, Aisha Yakubu-Adamu, the defendant committed the offence between August 2019 and June 2020 in Gidan Kwano, Kwanar Dangora, a community within Kiru Local Government Area. Ms. Yakubu-Adamu told the court that Zulfalalu unlawfully entered the victim’s residence at night and raped the elderly woman, who was 85 years old at the time of the attack. But the case against “Mai Siket” did not stop at a single incident. The prosecutor painted a chilling picture of a serial predator who had terrorised the community for months. She informed the court that the defendant had developed a disturbing pattern: he would strip completely naked, scale the fences of unsuspecting families in the dead of night, and target victims ranging from minors and teenagers to housewives and elderly women.

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Court documents and earlier police reports revealed that Zulfalalu—also known at the time of his arrest as Mohammed Zulfara’u—was linked to over 40 rape cases in the Kwanar Dangora area before he was finally apprehended. In a confessional statement made to the police following his arrest in June 2020, the defendant admitted to his crimes, detailing how he would scout neighborhoods, identify vulnerable households, and strike under the cover of darkness. His arrest came after a vigilant mother caught him inside her children’s room at night. Her screams alerted neighbours, who mobbed and restrained him until law enforcement officers arrived. That arrest ultimately led to his prosecution and the conviction that has now sent him to prison for two decades.

Delivering judgment, Justice Aisha Mahmoud sentenced Zulfalalu to 20 years imprisonment for the charge of rape and 6 years imprisonment for housebreaking. The judge ordered that both sentences run concurrently, meaning the convict will serve a total of 20 years behind bars. In addition to the prison term, the court awarded N500,000 in compensation to the 85-year-old victim, a move the judge described as restitution for the physical and psychological trauma she endured. The offences were prosecuted under Sections 283 and 356 of the Penal Code, which criminalise rape and unlawful entry, respectively.

Reacting to the judgment, the Kano State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru-Maude (SAN), described the conviction as a turning point in the state’s judicial approach to sexual offences. In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Abubakar Tijjani-Ibrahim, the Attorney-General said that this conviction is a significant step towards strengthening public confidence in the justice system and protecting vulnerable persons from abuse and exploitation. Mr. Kabiru-Maude commended the Principal State Counsel, Ms. Aisha Yakubu-Adamu, for her meticulous handling of the prosecution, which ensured that justice was served swiftly and decisively. He further reiterated that the administration of Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf remains unwavering in its commitment to building a justice system that promotes accountability, safeguards human dignity, and ensures the timely prosecution of criminal offences. He warned that sexual and gender-based violence constitute serious threats to society, adding that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.

The Attorney-General also used the opportunity to praise the dedication and professionalism of state counsel in the Ministry of Justice, urging them to maintain the momentum in delivering effective justice. He reaffirmed the ministry’s resolve to uphold the rule of law, protect citizens’ rights, and support the government’s broader vision of a secure, just, and inclusive society. The case has sent shockwaves through Kano State and beyond, serving as a stark reminder that sexual violence against vulnerable populations—especially the elderly—will not be tolerated by the courts. For the residents of Gidan Kwano and surrounding communities, the conviction of “Mai Siket” brings a measure of closure after years of living in fear of a nocturnal predator who once roamed their streets with impunity.

Kano Court Jails Man for 20 Years for Raping 40 Women, Including an 85-Year-Old Woman