society

EXPOSED! An Account of how Maryam Sanda killed her husband, Bilyamin Bello – Witness reveals

Published

8 years ago

April 20, 2018

A witness has revealed in details how Maryam Sanda made several attempt attempts to stab her husband, Bilyamin Bello before eventually killing him the night she did. Recall that Sanda is standing trial for the alleged murder of Bello, who was her husband and son of former Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Bello Haliru.

The witness, Ibrahim Mohammed, said he was with the deceased for over eight hours, the night before his death; and witnessed several attempts by the first defendant, Ms Sanda, to kill him.

According to Mohammed, a friend of Bilayamin, Sanda asked her husband for divorce and appeared bent on getting it that night. The witness said she threatened several times to chop off his sex organ if he declined to give her freedom from their marriage. Mohammed told the court that while he was watching television with the deceased at the couple’s residence that fateful day, he heard Sanda calling her husband from upstairs.

“He went to meet her, but soon returned to the sitting room,” said Mohammed. The witness further explained that the accused soon came herself to call her husband a second time in the sitting room.

“Soon after they returned upstairs, I heard noise coming from there. Maryam sent the fourth defendant to call me. When I got there I saw both of them holding each other to the throat.

“I enquired to know what was happening and asked them to stop fighting. The first defendant asked me to tell her husband to divorce her, but I asked her to take things calm. She said she was not going anywhere until he divorced her,” Mohammed told the court.

Mohammed said he tried disengaging Sanda’s hand from her husband’s neck. He added that shortly after separating the couple, the first defendant rushed to break a bottle of groundnut on the wall and tried stabbing her husband with it.

“She came straight at Bilyamin to stab him. I held her hands and Bilyamin went behind her and collected the broken bottle from her hands and went downstairs. I closed the door and continued to advise Maryam that they should stop fighting.

“She said she would not stop until Bilyamin divorced her that night; that either he divorced her or she would cut his private part.

“While pleading with her, Bilyamin entered the bedroom and Maryam followed him, insisting that he should divorce her that night but Bilyamin kept silent,” Mohammed said.

The witness narrated that the first defendant made another attempt to stab her husband after breaking another bottle of perfume, but her husband collected the bottle, pushed her to the bed and left the room.

“The first defendant then went to the kitchen and picked a knife with which she attempted again to stab the deceased,” said the witness who added that Bilyamin collected the knife from the defendant but that she made three other attempts to collect the knife.

“She attempted picking the knife for about three or four times,” he said.

At that point, the witness said he tried to make a number of calls. When one of those whom he called arrived the house, Mr Mohammed said he went with the deceased to treat the injury sustained from a bite inflicted upon him by Ms Sanda.

They later returned to the house and were subsequently joined by a third person who chatted briefly with them at the sitting room.

“When we returned, the first defendant was not at home. She later returned and started playing with the baby,” added Mr Mohammed.

To avoid being seen as coming in-between the couples, the visitors decide to leave, the witness narrated. While leaving, Mr. Mohammed said he narrated what happened before his arrival to his friend who wondered why they left the house, given the violence between the couple.

Mr. Mohammed said they made further attempts to call the deceased on phone, without success.

Mr. Mohammed added that he later received a call from Bilyamin’s brother that Bilyamin had been killed.

“I went to Maitama Hospital after that call and met Bilyaminu lying on a bed in front of the hospital. There was a hole in his chest near the heart, bite on his stomach. There was a cut on his thigh and there was a sign of stitching on him,” he said.

During cross-examination, Mr. Mohammed told the court that the deceased was not badly injured before he left the house. He also said although Ms Sanda threatened to cut off her husband’s sex organ, she never actually threatened to kill him.

The trial judge, Yusuf Halilu adjourned the matter to May 15.

society

Lagos 2027: Obasa hosts Hamzat, Promises Support for Governorship Bid

Published

4 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Lagos 2027: Obasa hosts Hamzat, Promises Support for Governorship Bid

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, on Thursday, played host to Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat at his official residence in GRA, Ikeja, promising to galvanise his expansive political structure to ensure Hamzat’s victory at the forthcoming governorship election.

Dr Hamzat is the presumptive APC candidate for the Lagos governorship seat, and the engagement was part of his ongoing strategic consultations with All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders and leaders.

Speaker Obasa extolled Hamzat’s pedigree, commitment to infrastructure development, and loyalty to the party, adding that for the continued development of Lagos State, every discerning electorate must rally round him.

“I just returned from Abuja, and the conversation remains the same – Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat is the next Governor of Lagos State. You have demonstrated unquestionable loyalty to our great party and even greater competence in serving Lagos. We love you, we support you, and we will do everything to ensure that we win the election,” Speaker Obasa declared.

Responding, Dr Hamzat expressed gratitude for the warm reception while highlighting Obasa’s legislative experience and political network, which he said are invaluable. He reiterated his focus on collaborative governance, saying, “Lagos is a collective project. My consultations are not about personal ambition but about ensuring continuity, innovation, and inclusive development for our people,” Hamzat said.

society

Police Repel Coordinated Kidnap Attack In Sokoto, Launch Manhunt

Published

9 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Police Repel Coordinated Kidnap Attack In Sokoto, Launch Manhunt

Security operatives in Sokoto State have foiled a coordinated kidnapping attempt by armed bandits targeting two communities, killing one suspect and launching a manhunt for others who escaped with injuries.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Ahmad Rufa’i, the operation was carried out in the early hours of Thursday following a distress call received at about 12:30 a.m. reporting simultaneous attacks on Illela Village, also known as Achida Town, and Kwargaba Hamlet.

“The Anti-Kidnapping Unit, in collaboration with other tactical teams, responded swiftly to the distress call,” he said. “Our operatives, who were already on high alert, engaged the bandits in a fierce gun duel and successfully repelled the attack.”

Rufa’i disclosed that the security forces overpowered the assailants after a prolonged exchange of gunfire, neutralising one suspect who was dressed in military camouflage, while others fled with gunshot wounds into the nearby Gundumi Forest.

“An intensive manhunt is ongoing to track down the fleeing suspects who escaped into the forest with varying degrees of injuries,” he added.

However, before the arrival of security personnel, the bandits reportedly shot and killed a member of the Kwargaba community vigilante group. His body has since been recovered and released to his family for burial.

The police spokesperson urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements or individuals to the nearest security agency, assuring that efforts are being intensified to ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.

society

The Kendrick Brothers, Cameron Arnett, Kingdom Story Company, Bright Wonder Obasi Train 60 Christian Filmmakers in Nigeria

Published

12 hours ago

April 23, 2026

Sahara Weekly

The Kendrick Brothers, Cameron Arnett, Kingdom Story Company, Bright Wonder Obasi Train 60 Christian Filmmakers in Nigeria

Abuja, Nigeria – April 23, 2026

Successful actors, producers and movie makers like; the Kendrick Brothers, Cameron Arnett, Kingdom Story Company, Bright Wonder Obasi were among the facilitators who trained 60 Christian Filmmakers in Nigeria at the just concluded Africa Gospel Film Project (AGFP) 2026.

The groundbreaking 6-day Intensive Filmmaking Masterclass and Spiritual Formation Program, were 60 emerging Christian filmmakers from Nigeria and Zambia were trained in Abuja was held at the Gospel Cinema International /High Definition Film Academy (HDFA) Facility in Gwarinpa.

The program brought together a distinguished lineup of facilitators from Nigeria and the United States, positioning AGFP as a leading platform for faith-based filmmaking development in Africa.

Among the international facilitators was Stephen Kendrick of the Kendrick Brothers, known for films such as The Forge, War Room, Facing the Giants, and Courageous, Overcomer, Fireproof, who delivered a powerful session titled “Heart of The Filmmaker.” Also featured was Cameron Arnett, who led sessions on “Christ Over Career” and acting for film.

Other notable speakers included Nick Carey (Kingdom Story Company), who spoke on “The Making of a Faith-Based Blockbuster Movie,” as well as Bob Saenz (Screenwriting Masterclass), Beverly Holloway (Acting Masterclass), David Cook, Adam Drake, Prince Daniel (Aboki), Lummie Adevbie, Chris Odeh, and Jennifer Keltner (Identity & Storytelling), among others.

The program opened with a strong spiritual foundation, including worship and a keynote by the Convener, Bright Wonder Obasi, titled “Calling & Identity: Film as Spiritual Influence/Programming,” which challenged participants to view storytelling as a tool for cultural and spiritual transformation.

Participants were grouped into four production studios—House of Gideon, House of Caleb, House of Joshua, and House of David—and underwent three days of intensive masterclasses and workshops across screenwriting, directing, cinematography, acting, editing, and producing, alongside deep spiritual formation.

On Day 4, teams developed and pitched short film concepts for professional review and approval. Day 5 was dedicated to full-scale production, with all four teams executing their projects under real industry conditions.

The program culminated on Day 6 with:

A Pitch-A-Thon, where 20 filmmakers presented original projects for funding and collaboration.

A public screening of four short films produced during the program

Professional feedback from a panel of judges.

Certification of all participants

Awards for best Screenplay, Cinematography, directing, editing, acting, and overall best short film.

The closing ceremony featured a powerful commissioning session led by Pastor Ikenna Okeke, where participants were prayed for and consecrated as “God’s Creative Army.”

Speaking after the event, the Convener, Bright Wonder Obasi, described AGFP 2026 as “a movement to raise storytellers who will shape culture and influence nations through truth-driven films.

Films that honor God”

With its successful debut, AGFP is now preparing for its next edition, following its mandate to train 300 Christian filmmakers across Africa and develop a slate of six global faith-based films over a three-year period.

The Africa Gospel Film Project continues to position itself as a catalyst for purpose-driven storytelling, industry excellence, and spiritual transformation in African cinema.