Groups condemn Hisbah for arresting Zamfara woman over alleged witchcraft

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has condemned the reported arrest of a woman, Khadija Abdullah, by the Zamfara State Hisbah Commission over alleged witchcraft practices.

The group, in a statement on Monday, by its director, Leo Igwe, described the arrest as unlawful, arguing that witchcraft was not recognised as a criminal offence under Nigerian law.

According to the statement, Abdullah was arrested by Hisbah officials in Gusau, the state capital, following complaints by community leaders who alleged that she engaged in forbidden “spiritual practices” at her residence.

Igwe said Hisbah officers subsequently raided Abdullah’s apartment, where they reportedly found a woman receiving treatment for an undisclosed spiritual ailment.

He said during interrogation, Abdullah admitted to providing spiritual treatment, explaining that she believed she was possessed by spirits and used perfumes as part of the treatment.

“She used to recite some prayers into water and administer it to people seeking traditional or spiritual remedies,” the statement revealed in part.

The group noted further that it was unclear whether formal charges had been brought against Abdullah.

Igwe said the Chairman of Hisbah, Sheikh Umar Hassan Gusau, had called for further investigation to establish the authenticity of the allegations before any action would be taken “in accordance with the law”.

However, Igwe questioned the specific law under which the alleged arrest was made, saying the Nigerian law did not recognise witchcraft as an offence.

“It is not clear which law the chairman of Hisbah was referring to because Nigerian law does not recognise witchcraft. ‘Witchcraft activities’ do not constitute an offence under the law,” he clarified.

The reported arrest has also generated reactions on social media, with prominent legal experts, among them, Chidi Odinkalu, who  questioned the authority of Hisbah to investigate or arrest alleged witches.

“From where does #Hisbah acquire the power, capacity, or authority to chase #WitchesAndWizards, please?” Odinkalu asked in a post on X.

An advocate from Edo State also described the reported action as religious persecution, saying, “This na clear case of religious persecution, because you nor fit tell person how dem wan take practice their own spirituality when e be say e nor dey cause harm 2 anyone.”

A medical expert familiar with beliefs and practices in northern Nigeria, who also reacted to the development, said, “They should arrest half of the north then.”

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches said it condemned Abdullah’s arrest and urged the Hisbah authorities to desist from what it described as “witch-hunting” and the persecution of people over their religious or spiritual practices.

“Hisbah does not have the power to identify witches or determine witchcraft activities,” Igwe stressed.

He added, “Hisbah officers should desist from witch-hunting, from arrest and persecution of others for their religious beliefs.”

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According to him, Abdullah should be allowed to engage in spiritual activities provided such activities do not violate the law or pose a threat to public health.

“Hisbah is an Islamic police outfit, not a spiritual police, not a witch police. It is unlawful for Hisbah to arrest anybody for ‘witchcraft activities’,” he maintained.

Igwe disclosed that the group had contacted the National Human Rights Commission and the International Federation of Women Lawyers offices in Gusau to ascertain Abdullah’s current situation and establish the status of the case.

He called for efforts to protect people accused of witchcraft or “harmful spirituality” from persecution and assist them in seeking legal redress where necessary.

“The government should call Hisbah to order and end the Islam-based witch hunt in Zamfara,” Igwe said.

Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Command has urged the relatives of a victim allegedly subjected to witchcraft-related abuse to formally report the incident to the police for investigation.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abubakar Yazid, gave the advice in a telephone chat with Arewa PUNCH while reacting to the report on the alleged abuse.

He said the formal complaint would enable the command to invite those involved and commence investigation.

Yazid said, “I want them to formally report the issue to us so that we will write and invite the Hisbah to forward the case to us for investigation.”

According to him, the command had not received any formal complaint concerning the incident, although it had already begun taking steps to draw the attention of the state government to the matter.

“Because as of now, nobody reported this issue to us. But I am taking it up. I am taking it up to the Zamfara State Government,” he said.

The police spokesperson added that he would also share the matter with the government spokesperson to enable the authorities to look into the activities surrounding the case.

“I will share it with the spokesperson of the government to see what the Hisbah are doing,” Yazid assured Arewa PUNCH.

He stressed the importance of a formal complaint by the victim’s relatives, explaining that such a step would allow the police to act without giving the impression that the command was attempting to interfere in the matter.

Yazid also noted the difficulty of establishing allegations of witchcraft against an individual, saying, “It’s very difficult for you to prove someone is a witch.”

He further requested details of the victim’s location, saying the information would assist the police in locating and reaching those affected.

The PPRO assured that the command was willing to investigate the matter once it received a formal complaint from the victim’s relatives.