In an emotional moment that has touched hearts across the country, Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa, father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, has publicly forgiven his daughter-in-law, Maryam Sanda — the woman convicted of killing his son in 2017. His statement comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu granted Sanda a presidential pardon on compassionate grounds, allowing her to reunite with her children after years behind bars.
Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of her husband, was among the inmates recently granted clemency as part of the federal government’s humanitarian amnesty program. Her case, which dominated headlines for years, reignited national conversations about domestic violence, justice, and forgiveness in Nigeria.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, a visibly emotional Alhaji Bello said he accepted the president’s decision as the will of God and had long chosen forgiveness over vengeance. “I have accepted what happened to my son as the will of Almighty Allah,” he said softly. “Nothing can bring Bilyaminu back, and vengeance will not heal the pain. Forgiveness is the only thing that can bring peace.”
He explained that his concern had always been for his grandchildren — Sa’adatu and young Bilyaminu — who were left in the care of relatives after their mother’s conviction. “Before the end of the trial, I told the police and the court that I didn’t want Maryam prosecuted. I didn’t want my grandchildren to lose both parents. They’ve already lost their father; they shouldn’t lose their mother too,” he said.
The elder Bello described President Tinubu’s decision as a “merciful and fatherly act” that gives Maryam a chance to rebuild her life and care for her children. “I thank the president for showing compassion,” he said. “We Muslims accept everything that comes from Allah. I have forgiven Maryam and hold no grudges against anyone — not the government, not her family. Revenge will not bring my son back, but forgiveness can bring peace to our hearts.”
He went on to recall how faith had sustained his family through the tragedy, emphasizing that Islam teaches compassion and the belief that ultimate justice belongs to God. “Losing a child in such a painful way leaves a wound that never truly heals,” he said. “But we must trust in Allah’s plan. Forgiveness is not weakness; it is strength, and it brings the kind of peace that vengeance never can.”
In response to the gesture, Maryam’s father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, expressed deep gratitude to the Bello family for their understanding and magnanimity. “What the Bello family has done is an extraordinary act of faith and forgiveness,” he said. “Their compassion has opened a new chapter for both families — one built on love, peace, and unity.”
Both families have pledged to put the past behind them and focus on raising the two children in an atmosphere of care and mutual respect. For many Nigerians, the story of Maryam Sanda and Bilyaminu Bello — once a tragic symbol of domestic conflict — is now becoming a rare story of healing, mercy, and the redemptive power of forgiveness.