Bauchi Police Transfer Witchcraft-Related Attack Case to CID
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested 17 suspects over an alleged attack on a family following accusations of witchcraft in Gobirawa Village, Gwana District, Alkaleri Local Government Area. The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed in a statement on Monday that the incident occurred at about 1 a.m. on October 18, 2026. According to the police, the suspects allegedly joined three others, identified as Maharazu Isah, Babangida Kadamaje and Yakubu Umaru, who remain at large, to invade the home of a 60-year-old man while armed with machetes and sticks. The attackers allegedly assaulted the man’s son, Abubakar, causing multiple fractures to his left hand and leg, alongside other injuries. The victim’s 30-year-old son also sustained injuries, while two motorcycles belonging to the family were reportedly damaged. Preliminary investigations linked the incident to the death of 20-year-old Halilu Ahmad on October 16, which the suspects allegedly blamed on witchcraft or wizardry by the victim’s son. Detectives attached to the Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters arrested the 17 suspects at about 3 p.m. on October 18.
The arrested suspects were identified as Dayyabu Umar, 18; Malam Sule Muhammadu, 50; Usman Dabo, 20; Umar Suleiman, 22; Aminu Ahmad, 18; Bello Umar, 20; Sani Ibrahim, 18; Abubakar Ayuba, 25; Auwal Abdullahi, 22; Ayuba Ahmad, 30; Halilu Ahmad, 22; Umar Rabi’u, 18; Dauda Rabi’u, 20; Ashiru Alhaji Abdulkarim, 20; Abubakar Lamiru, 25; Adamu Ibrahim, 22; and Bashiru Rabi’u, 20. Police said the injured victim was first taken to General Hospital, Alkaleri, before being referred to Ihsan Hospital, Bauchi, after his condition deteriorated. The case has been classified as attempted culpable homicide, and Commissioner of Police Sani-Omolori Aliyu has ordered its transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation, the arrest of the fleeing suspects and prosecution of anyone found culpable. The commissioner condemned jungle justice based on unverified superstitious beliefs, warning that the command would not tolerate actions capable of disrupting public order. Residents were urged to report grievances and suspected crimes to law enforcement agencies rather than taking the law into their own hands.
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