Renowned security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, has reported that the Borno State Police Command has apprehended two individuals in connection with the gruesome murder of a 50-year-old woman accused of witchcraft in the Bantine community of Biu Local Government Area.
The Commissioner of Police, Borno Command, Yusuf Lawan, confirmed the arrests on Saturday, revealing that the deceased, identified as Hajara Saleh, was brutally killed on February 21. According to Lawan, the suspects—Ja’o Muhammad, Idrisa Muhammad, and Ya’u Muhammad, aged between 20 and 30—allegedly conspired to eliminate the victim, accusing her of witchcraft and attributing misfortunes in the community to her.
Lawan detailed that Hajara Saleh sustained severe injuries to her neck, legs, and hands, leading to her tragic demise. The police were alerted to the crime by a concerned resident of Dadinkowa Gunda ward, who reported the incident at about 11:00 a.m.
Upon arriving 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. However, despite the burial, police investigators managed to document the crime scene, capturing critical photographic evidence to aid in their probe.
While two suspects were swiftly apprehended, the third remains at large. Commissioner Lawan assured the public that a manhunt is underway to ensure that the fugitive is brought to justice.
Describing the act as “barbaric and utterly unjustified,” Lawan reiterated that accusations of witchcraft should never serve as a pretext for violence or extrajudicial killings.
“The police are fully committed to ensuring that all those responsible for this heinous crime face the full wrath of the law. The public must understand that taking the law into their own hands is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” he stated.
The suspects are currently facing charges of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and other related offenses, and will be prosecuted upon the conclusion of investigations.
Commissioner Lawan urged community members to abandon superstitious beliefs that fuel violence and instead report suspicions or grievances to law enforcement agencies.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers of jungle justice and the urgent need for community sensitization against unfounded witchcraft accusations that continue to claim innocent lives.
PIONEER NEWS 