17 arrested after witchcraft accusation triggers family attack in Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Command has apprehended 17 individuals in connection with an attack on a family in Gobirawa Village, located in the Alkaleri Local Government Area. The arrests stem from allegations that a young man used witchcraft to cause the death of a local resident.
Police Public Relations Officer SP Nafiu Habib announced the arrests in a statement released on Monday. The incident reportedly took place around 1 a.m. on October 18, just two days after the death of 20-year-old Halilu Ahmad on October 16, 2023.
According to the police, the suspects allegedly invaded the family’s home armed with machetes and sticks, injuring a 60-year-old man and his 30-year-old son. The assailants are also accused of damaging two motorcycles that belonged to the family.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the attack was motivated by the suspects’ belief that the younger victim was responsible for Ahmad’s death through witchcraft. The 60-year-old victim was initially taken to General Hospital in Alkaleri for treatment but was later referred to Ihsan Hospital in Bauchi due to the severity of his injuries.
The statement noted that detectives from the Alkaleri Division arrested the suspects following the incident. The Commissioner of Police has ordered the case to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Bauchi for further inquiry. Authorities are also working to apprehend three additional suspects who remain at large.
The Commissioner cautioned residents against acting on unverified allegations of witchcraft or other superstitions, as such claims can lead to violence and wrongful punishment of innocent individuals. He encouraged the public to report suspicions or conflicts to the police rather than taking the law into their own hands.
The police command reassured the public of its commitment to pursuing justice in this matter and emphasized that it will not tolerate actions that threaten peace and security.
