Bauchi farmer hacked to death over witchcraft allegation

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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.

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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

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“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.

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

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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.

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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.

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

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

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

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