Bello Jangebe (or Jangedi) from Zamfara state came into limelight in 2000 when he became the first to experience the full force of the Sharia legal system after its official commencement by Governor Ahmad Sani Yarima. Jangebe's punishment was amputation of his wrist for alleged stealing a cow.
Alias 'Kare Garke' (ranch raider), Jangebe was caught and convicted for stealing a cow on March 22, 2000. The cow was worth more than one-fourth of gold in the ancient Arabian currency, now estimated at N2,640 at the time.
After the amputation, he was closely monitored by officials of the government until he was deemed fit to return home.
On Sunday April 9, 2000, Jangebe returned home saying he was not angry about losing his hand because it led to the end of his 12-year career as a thief.
According to him, he refused to appeal against the verdict of the Sharia court because the punishment had made him become very honest. He even got employed as a messenger in a secondary school in his home village of Jangebe.
"When I was a thief, there were lots of problems, there was no money, I had no peace. At that time, my relatives deserted me. They were all afraid of me.
"But things have now changed. I now visit my relatives and they also visit me. For this, I thank God for the amputation," he said at the time.
Credit: Ethnic African Stories
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