Bauchi farmer hacked to death over witchcraft allegation

The suspects. Credit: Bauchi State Police Command.

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested four men for allegedly killing a 45-year-old farmer, Garba Abdullahi, after accusing him of causing the illness of one Sawaida Dahiru.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Habib identified the suspects as Shitu Dahiru, 25; Magaji Dahiru, 42; Sabi’u Auwalu, 20; and Abbah Abdulzahar, 19.

He said the suspects allegedly attacked Abdullahi while he was returning from his farm in Dunari Village, Atahowa District, Bauchi State.

According to the PPRO, Abdullahi’s 35-year-old younger brother reported the incident at the Gadau Divisional Police Headquarters at about 12:35pm on Tuesday.

He said the victim was attacked at about 11:40am by the four suspects, who allegedly accused him of being responsible for Dahiru’s illness.

Habib said the suspects allegedly stabbed and macheted Abdullahi on different parts of his body, leaving him unconscious.

“The suspects, identified as Shitu Dahiru, 25 years old; Magaji Dahiru, 42 years old; Sabi’u Auwalu, 20 years old; and Abbah Abdulzahar, 19 years old, all males and of the same address, allegedly stabbed and macheted the victim on various parts of his body, leaving him unconscious,” he said.

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He said police operatives, upon receiving the report, rushed to the scene and evacuated the victim to the General Hospital, Azare, for medical attention.

“The victim was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while the corpse was released to relatives for burial,” Habib added.

The PPRO said all four suspects had been arrested and that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Bauchi, for further investigation and prosecution.

Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, condemned the killing and warned residents against taking the law into their own hands.

The statement quoted Aliyu as decrying “the increasing cases of jungle justice and self-help predicated on superstitious beliefs.”

He warned that “no one has the right to take the life of another under any guise.”

The command reassured residents of its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged them to provide timely and credible information to the police.