The Bauchi State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a housewife, Zuwair Hassan, of Magama-Gumau in Toro Local Government Area, for allegedly inflicting burn injuries on the private parts of her 10-year-old sister-in-law over suspicion of witchcraft.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil, the case was reported on 11th September 2025 by Yahuza Usman, 37, who alleged that his young sister had been assaulted with a hot metal spoon by Zuwair, his brother’s wife. Detectives were immediately dispatched to the scene, and the victim was taken to the General Hospital, Toro, for urgent treatment, while the suspect was arrested.
During interrogation, Zuwair confessed that on 8th September 2025, after her children claimed to have bad dreams about the victim, she consulted a native doctor, Fatima Abdullahi, who allegedly told her the girl was a witch. The herbalist gave her “witch protection” medicine after receiving ₦40,000. Acting on this, Zuwair heated a spoon and, with the help of her two sons who tied the victim, inserted the hot spoon into the girl’s private parts. The herbalist has also been arrested and admitted to receiving the suspect at her home.
The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, ordered the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for thorough investigation, assuring that justice will be served.
In a related development, the Command also arrested Ibrahim Hassan Mamman, 27, the operator of Hamdala Special Medicine Store in Bauchi metropolis, after the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management petitioned him for allegedly causing severe bodily harm to a 15-year-old girl through unsafe injection treatment. Investigations revealed that Mamman was neither a licensed pharmacist nor a doctor. Expired drugs were also recovered from his store.
The police urged parents and guardians to avoid subjecting children to harmful practices in the name of treatment or witchcraft cleansing and advised that professional medical help should always be sought. Investigations into both cases are ongoing, after which the suspects will be charged in court.
