BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – Still haunted by the sad memories of losing their loved ones, Gaba Community in Lavun Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State has rejected the unconditional State pardon granted to the 11 persons sentenced to death by the Justice Maimuna A. Abubakar of the State High Court.
The capital punishment was slammed on the accused persons by the Court for culpable homicide involving seven farmers in the community.
In kicking against the State government’s decision to let the condemned people go free, the Chairman of Gaba Development Association (GDA), Mr Paul Gana, said the pardon may trigger another conflict within the area.
Mr. Gana, who addressed the Press in Minna on Thursday, said by Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago’s decision to grant the 11 convicts unconditional State pardon, the victims have been denied justice.
Accordingly, he urged the state government to withdraw the pardon and respect the court judgement in the overall interest of peace and justice for the victims.
The GDA Chairman told journalists that the victims were attacked on their farm in 2018 by the convicts during which seven people were killed and two others were injured.
He said after vigorously pursuing the case for four years, Justice Maimuna A. Abubakar of State High Court in a 779 page judgment on February 2, 2022 found the 11 convicts guilty of conspiracy and culpable homicide and sentenced them individually to death by hanging.
However, on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the State Governor, Umaru Bago, granted the 11 convicts unconditional clemency, during a media briefing held by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Nasiru Mu’azu, at the Government House in Minna.
He explained that the convicts were involved in a communal clash between Gaba and Amfani communities of Lavun local government area of the State, which led to the loss of lives and property.
The Commissioner said the State pardon was in exercise of the Governor’s constitutional power following a written request which was further reviewed by Governor Bago and the State Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.
Barrister Mu’azu said the State pardon was also part of the reconciliatory efforts to ensure lasting peace between both communities, adding that several meetings were held, and all outstanding amicably resolved.
The Attorney General further stated that the instrument of Pardon was signed on the 28th of May 2025 and has already been gazetted.
Among those granted State pardon were Mohammed Mohammed, Nana Alhaji Sheshi, Isah Baba Nmadu, Mohammed Mohammed Ndabida, and Abubakar Baba Salihu.
Others include Baba Mohammed Shaba, Adamu Mohammed Babaminin, Haruna Mohammed, Isah Mohammed Alhaji Inuwa, Ibrahim Mohammed and Mohammed Isah.
