KANO, Nigeria – A Kano State High Court has handed down a death sentence to Frank Geng-Quangrong, a Chinese national, for the murder of his girlfriend, Ummukhulsum Buhari.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, brings a close to a case that has captivated public attention and sparked discussions about international relations and justice in Nigeria.
Ummukhulsum Buhari, until her untimely death, was a resident of the Janbulo area in the Kano metropolis.
The court heard that on the evening of September 16, 2022, Geng-Quangrong arrived at Buhari’s residence, frantically knocking on the door around 8 p.m., before forcing his way into the house by 9 p.m.
Despite the efforts of Buhari’s mother to deter him, Geng pushed past and fatally stabbed Ummukhulsum in her room.
The mother’s testimony painted a harrowing picture of the events, recounting how Geng’s persistent knocking eventually led to a violent intrusion and the tragic death of her daughter.
“When we got tired of his knocking, I went out to tell him to keep off our house, but he pushed and went straight into her room and killed her,” she said.
The outcry following the attack prompted neighbours to come to their aid, leading to Geng’s apprehension.
The prosecution of Frank Geng-Quangrong by the Kano State government on a charge of murder has been closely watched, both domestically and internationally.
During the trial, Geng claimed that the stabbing was an act of self-defense—a defense that the court ultimately rejected.
