From Muhammad Ahmadu Saka, in Bauchi
A Housewife in Magama Gumau area in Toro Local Government area of Bauchi State has allegedly burnt the private part of a 10 year old girl with hot metal object over alleged witchcraft.
The victim was allegedly brutalised by her brother’s wife, identified as Zuwaira Ibrahim, who allegedly burnt the private part of the girl with a hot metal object, after she was accused of being a witch.
In his account of the incident, a resident and an activist in the area, Kabiru Mohammed Abdulkadir, said that Zuwaira’s child told her that she saw the victim, amongst a group of witches and was taken to a herbalist to confirm whether she really belongs to a witchcraft group.
The victim
Abdulkadir said that: “The herbalist told them that she is not a witch but Zuwaira disagreed with the confirmation. They returned home from where they went and put a knife or spoon on fire to burn her private part –believing that if she’s a real witch she won’t feel pain, and she would disappear.”
He said it was her loud cries that disturbed the neighbours and when we got there, we saw the situation and insisted that the case be reported to police.”
A video clip sighted by our correspondent showed that the little girl’s private part and laps were burnt and progressed to rot.
The activist said that the smell from the wound disturbs the whole household while she finds it difficult to defecate and pass urine, and the victim has been taken to the Hospital for treatment.
Police Public Relations Officer PPRO CSP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil confirmed the incident to reporters.
He said the Police recorded the incident on 11th September 2025 when it was reported by one Yahuza Usman ‘m’ aged 37 years of Magama Gumau, Toro LGA, Bauchi State
He reported the matter at the Toro Division and explained that his sister aged 10yrs of same address was mercilessly and forcefully punished with a hot metal spoon inserted at her private part suspected to be by his brother’s wife called Zuwaira Hassan.
Wakil said “Upon receipt of the report, a team of detectives were drafted to the scene. They evacuated the victim to General Hospital in Toro for immediate medical attention, while the suspects were subsequently arrested”.
“During interrogation, the principal suspect (Zuwaira Hassan) confessed that on the 8/9/2025 while they were conversing with her two children and the victim who was an in-law to the suspects (Zuwaira Hassan), where the victim disclosed to the suspect that the living room will fall down and suggested that they should vacate to another room and her two children disclosed that they were dreaming of the victim in bad light, and for that reason, the following day early in the morning, the suspect prepared and took the victim to one native doctor by name Fatima Abdullahi a traditional herbalist and disclosed that the victim was suspected to be a witch and the herbalist served the suspect with a traditional medicines to be used for witch protection. Subsequently, the suspect put a metal spoon into fire, directed her two sons; one Umar Ibrahim ‘m’ and Abubakar Ibrahim to tie the victim’s hands and legs, and inserted the highly hot spoon into the victim’s private part as punishment claiming that she was assigned to do so by the said native doctor and the herbalist was also arrested”.
According to the Police, “Upon interrogation, the herbalist stated that she actually received the suspect alongside the victim at her matrimonial home, where the suspect requested witch protection medicines, claiming that the victim was a witch. Her children disclosed to her about the bad dreams they had been having during the night. The herbalist requested one hundred and fifty thousand naira (150,000) for the medicine, but the suspect bargained at forty thousand naira (40,000) and was offered a medicine for both baths and body smokes for a while. On September 2, 2025, she was arrested for being suspected of involvement in the suspect’s act”.
Wakil said “The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for thorough investigation, and he promised to make sure justice is served accordingly to the affected innocent victim.”
He said” investigation is in progress, after which the suspects will be charged to the competent court of jurisdiction to face the consequences of their actions”.
“The Bauchi State Police urges parents and guardians to approach the search for remedies for their sick children with caution and care. It is essential to be aware that not all options are genuine, and it’s crucial to seek advice from trusted professionals to ensure the well-being of your children.”
