- Over witchcraft allegations
BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – A Bauchi housewife, Zuwaira Ibrahim has allegedly inflicted severe burns on the private parts of her seven-year old sister-in-law over allegations of witchcraft.
Described as “man inhumanity to man” by medical personnel handling the case, the young girl is currently writhing in pains at the emergency ward of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH).
Accused by the woman of being involved in acts of witchcraft, the medical personnel said the victim has severe burns around the lower part of her body, particularly her private parts.
Reports said the unfortunate incident, which occurred in Magama-Gumau, Toro Local Government area of Bauchi State, saw the helpless girl brutalised by her brother’s wife, identified as Zuwaira Ibrahim.
An insider’s account revealed that the the brother’s wife, through a yet to be explained process, accused the little girl of being a witch and consequently embarked on inhuman act aimed at extracting a confession from her.
An activist and a resident of the area, Kabiru Mohammed Abdulkadir, gave the account of the incident thus; “Zuwaira’s child told her that she saw the victim, Habiba (not real name) amongst a group of witches and was taken to a man to confirm whether she really belongs to a witchcraft group.”
According to Abdulkadir: “The man told them that she is not a witch but Zuwaira disagreed with the confirmation. They returned home from where they went and She then used a hot knife removed from the fire to burn her private part, believing that if she’s a real witch she won’t feel pain.
“However, it was her (the girl) loud cries that attracted the neighbours and when we got there, we saw the situation and insisted that the case be reported to Police immediately.”
A video clip cited by some reporters shows the little girl’s private part and laps badly burnt with medical personnel at ATBUTH hoping that the wounds are not infected.
Reports said the victim is hopefully responding to treatment at the hospital but she finds it difficult to defecate and pass urine.
Confirming the incident, the State Police Spokesman, CSP Ahmed Wakil said the case was reported in Toro Division and the Command has ordered the referral of the case to the State Headquarters in Bauchi for proper investigation and prosecution of the accused person.
CSP Wakil said, “We are aware of the case. Initially, some people wanted to cover up and handle it within the community level but we insisted that the case be brought to the Command.
“We are going to issue a full statement on it as soon as all the facts get to us.”
