Witchcraft: Police Arrest 2, declare 1 wanted over alleged murder
The Police Area Command in Biu, Borno State, has detained two suspects and declared one wanted over the alleged killing of a 50-year-old woman they accused of witchcraft.
The development was made known by the Commissioner of Police, Borno Command, Mr Yusuf Lawan.
He to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) via telephone interview on Saturday that the woman, Hajara Saleh, was murdered on February 21 in Bantine community, Biu Local Government Area of the state.
He gave the names of the suspects as Ja’o Muhammad, Idrisa Muhammad and Ya’u Muhammad aged between 20 and 30.
The commissioner said the suspects attacked the woman after accusing her of witchcraft and bringing misfortune to the community.
Lawan said as a result of the attack, the woman sustained injuries on her neck, legs, and hands, which resulted to her death.
He said that the police were alerted by residents of Dadinkowa Gunda at about 11:00 a.m, and “upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered that the victim had already been buried according to Islamic rites by her husband, Saleh Bole, and other family members.”
The commissioner, however, said that the policemen were able to obtain the photograph the victim’s remains and gather critical evidence.
Lawal said that two suspects were arrested immediately, while one was still at large, but assured that they would get him.
The commissioner described the attack as barbaric and unjustifiable, warning that accusations of witchcraft should not be used as an excuse for violence or extrajudicial killing.
“The police are fully committed to bringing all those responsible for this heinous crime to justice. The public must understand that the law does not permit people to take matters into their own hands,” he said.
He assured that the suspects will be charged to court for criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and related offences upon completion of investigation. (NAN)
