Two individuals were arrested by police for the murd3r of a woman accused of witchcraft in the Borno community.
Two suspects have been arrested by the Bauchi State Police Command in connection with the m8rder of a woman who was accused of witchcraft practices in the Biu Local Government Area of the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Yusuf Lawan, who confirmed the incident on Saturday, February 22, 2025 gave the names of the suspects as Ja’o Muhammad, Idrisa Muhammad, 20, and Ya’u Muhammad, 30.
According to Lawan, Hajara Saleh was k!lled in Biu LGA's Bantine community on February 21st.
According to the commissioner, the suspects allegedly conspired to kill the victim, accusing her of practicing witchcraft and causing harm to the community.
According to Lawan, the woman was unalived due to injuries to her neck, legs, and hands.
According to him, a resident of Dadinkowa Gunda ward reported the incident to the police at approximately 11:00 a.m.
"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 said.
According to Lawan, despite the burial, police investigators were able to capture the victim's remains and gather vital evidence.
He asserted that two suspects were arrested immediately, but one was still on the run, assuring that the police had launched a manhunt to capture the suspect that was fleeing.
The commissioner characterized the attack as barbaric and unjustified, advising that accusing witchcraft should not be used as a justification for violence or extrajudicial killings.
"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 stated that the suspects are being charged with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and other related offenses and will be prosecuted once investigations are concluded.
Lawan advised community members to report any suspicions of witchcraft or other grievances to the police instead of using jungle justice.
