“I Have Forgiven Maryam, I Asked Tinubu for Her Pardon” — Father of Late Bilyaminu Bello

The father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, who was killed by his wife, Maryam Sanda, in 2017, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting his daughter-in-law a presidential pardon.

Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa revealed in Abuja on Tuesday that he had quietly appealed to President Tinubu to show mercy to Maryam, who had been on death row following her conviction for her husband’s murder. He explained that his plea for clemency was born out of compassion and concern for the welfare of his two grandchildren.

“As a devout Muslim, I accepted what happened as the will of Allah and chose to forgive Maryam long ago,” he said. “Losing my son was the most painful experience of my life, but executing Maryam would not bring him back. My main concern has always been the children — Sa’adatu and little Bilyaminu — who deserve the love and care of their mother.”

Alhaji Bello added that he had made efforts during the trial to convey his wish that Maryam not be prosecuted, stressing that his forgiveness was complete and sincere. “I beg in the name of Almighty Allah for mercy. If she is killed, who will care for her children? They would grow up orphans, deprived of both parents’ love,” he said.

Reacting to concerns raised by some members of his extended family over the pardon, Bello said everyone was entitled to their opinion but maintained that, as the biological father of the deceased, he had chosen forgiveness.

Maryam’s father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, expressed deep appreciation to the Bello family, describing their gesture as an extraordinary act of faith and humanity. “Words cannot capture our gratitude. This forgiveness shows true belief in Allah’s will and the power of reconciliation. We continue to pray that both families find healing and that the children grow up surrounded by love,” he said.

Both families affirmed their commitment to peace, forgiveness, and unity, pledging to raise the children in an atmosphere of love and understanding despite the tragedy that once divided them.