Police Arrest 17 Over Alleged Witchcraft Attack on Bauchi Family
The Bauchi State Police Command have arrested 17 people in connection with an alleged attack on a family in Gobirawa Village, Alkaleri Local Government Area, following accusations of witchcraft against one of its members.
The suspects allegedly stormed the family’s home in the early hours of October 18 and attacked a 60-year-old man and his 30-year-old son with machetes and sticks.
The incident reportedly followed the death of a 20-year-old resident, Halilu Ahmad, on October 16, with the suspects allegedly blaming the victim’s son for the death on the basis of witchcraft.
According to the police, the attackers also damaged two motorcycles belonging to the family during the incident.
The 60-year-old victim, who sustained serious injuries, was initially taken to the General Hospital in Alkaleri before being transferred to Ihsan Hospital in Bauchi for further medical attention.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Monday, saying detectives attached to the Alkaleri Divisional Police Headquarters apprehended the suspects following the attack.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, had ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Bauchi for a detailed investigation.
The police chief also directed investigators to intensify efforts to apprehend three other suspects who remain at large.
Aliyu cautioned residents against making witchcraft allegations or acting on unverified claims and superstitious beliefs, warning that such actions could result in violence and the punishment of innocent people.
He urged members of the public who have concerns about suspected criminal activity or disputes to report them to law enforcement authorities rather than taking matters into their own hands.
The Commissioner assured residents that the command would pursue the case and ensure that those found responsible faced the law, stressing that acts capable of disrupting public safety and order would not be tolerated.
