A shari'ah court in Sokoto State, northern Nigeria,...

A shari'ah court in Sokoto State, northern Nigeria, ordered the amputation of the right hands and left legs of two convicted armed robbers.
The duo, Malam Sani Shehu (a.k.a Wang Yu) and Malam Garba Dandare (a.k.a Dan Jega), were found guilty for stealing a policeman's beret, belt and bicycle. They were also accused of robbing one Sababa Bamaiyi of No. 1, Sama Road, Sokoto, of electronic equipment valued at 130,000 and 80,000 naira cash.
The judge, Kadi Bawa Sahabi Tambuwal, said the convicted men's punishment was based on the fact that they were found guilty of armed robbery and not ordinary theft.
He said the verdict was based on the provision in the Holy Koran and Suratul Ma'idah Chapter 5 verses 32 and 33. He said they have 30 days to appeal against the judgement.
However, the accused persons said they were satisfied with the judgement and would not appeal.
The Islamic legal code came into operation in the North in January 2000, with Zamfara State blazing the trail. Governor Sani Ahmed had said then that it was meant to rid the society of corruption and other social vices.