A Kano State High Court has sentenced one Barau Saidu to 20 years in a correctional centre after finding him guilty of killing his uncle in a dispute over farmland, local court records and news reports say.

The incident occurred in Kadawa village, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State where Saidu allegedly shot his uncle, Mallam Ibrahim Saidu, during an argument over ownership of a piece of farmland, according to the Kano State Police Command.

Police said the dispute had been simmering for some time before Barau Saidu pulled out a gun and shot his uncle, killing him on the spot. Neighbours reported that the victim had been well respected in the community for his role in local farming activities.

After the killing Saidu reportedly fled the scene but was arrested a few days later by police detectives acting on intelligence from community members. He was remanded in custody as the case was investigated and later charged with murder under the Criminal Code for Northern Nigeria.

At the High Court sitting in Kano, the prosecution presented witnesses including neighbours and forensic experts whose testimonies helped establish that the killing was intentional and without lawful justification. The defence counsel asked for a lighter sentence but the judge ruled that the severity of the offence and its impact on community peace warranted firm punishment.

Delivering judgment the judge said that taking the life of another person over land disputes undermines the rule of law and compromises social stability. The court therefore sentenced Saidu to 20 years’ imprisonment in a correctional facility without an option of fine, a sentence he is expected to serve before eligibility for any review.

Residents welcomed the verdict saying it will serve as a deterrent to others who take the law into their own hands in land and family disagreements, but also urged authorities to strengthen mediation and conflict resolution mechanisms in rural communities to prevent similar tragedies.