I Was Under Spell – Genital Mutilation Suspect Claims

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – Suspected ritualist arrested by the Bauchi State Police Command for allegedly mutilating of 6-year-old girl’s genital says he acted under the influence of charms administer on him by a friend now at large.

The suspect, 19-year-old Adamu Rauf from Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State told the Police that he unconsciously participated in committing the crime against Hawwa’u.

Narrating his role in the dastardly act to newsmen at the Police Headquarters in Bauchi, Adamu said; “I and my friend, Haladu, took the victim to an uncompleted building where her private part was mutilated on the instruction of one native Doctor who said he will use it to make money for us.”

According to him; “My friend used charms to lure the girl to the uncompleted building, then he brought out a knife and asked me to hold her skirt which I did. I was not aware that he had cut off her private part, what I know is that he later came into a house we hide and showed me the part he has cut off.”

Looking sober and remorseful of his criminal act, Adamu said that; “I told him to count me out of what happened, but he threatened to kill me if I tell anybody about it.”

Speaking on how the Police arrested him, the suspect said; “someone came to tell me that he heard that the Police want to see me at the station. I was standing by the roadside, so I climbed an Okada to go and honour their invitation where I was arrested.”

Asked if he was rewarded by his friend, Haladu, after carrying out the act, Adamu said; “he didn’t promise me anything. The only thing he did was to charm me and as a result, I saw myself foolishly obeying all his instructions and he was dragging me to so many places with the charm, I really regret my action.”

Meanwhile, the victim’s Aunty, Maryam Mohammed, who spoke to newsmen in Jama’re said the victim was placed under her care as her brother and mother of the girl had separated.

According to her, “I was not at home when the incident occurred. The victim went to the house of another brother of ours to play but on her way, met the suspects who sent her on an errand”, adding that upon returning, they lured her to the uncompleted building

Maryam further said; “From there, we didn’t know what happened. We only saw her coming back with blood stains crying, we don’t know how she managed to come back home.”

Maryam, who disclosed that one of the neighbours, a woman that alerted them on the happenings said; “A neighbour called us that we should come and see our daughter, that something has wounded her, some said she was raped but when she was taken to hospital, they referred them to Azare Medical Centre, When we were crying, somebody who went to the hospital told us that it was not rape but her entire private part was mutilated.”

Noting that such an incident has never happened in the entire area of Jama’are, the victim’s Aunty said they were planning to enrol her in school this year before the ugly incident happened.

“We have never witnessed or heard of this kind heinous act in this our community. She has a sibling who is also under my care. She is the first child of her mother,” she said.

Pleading with the authorities to ensure that justice is serve as deterrent to others, she expressed gratitude to the State government for intervening in the matter quickly.

The Bauchi State Police Command PPRO, Ahmed Wakil, while confirming the suspect’s arrest, said when the Police received complaints by the victim’s Aunty, they swung into action and arrested one of the suspect while his accomplice is still at large.

In a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi, the PPRO also said when the Police rushed the victim to the hospital, a medical doctor confirmed that her genital had been removed.

He said Commissioner of Police, Lawan Jimeta has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation on the incident which occurred on December 30, 2020 at about 7.20pm.

The suspect, Adamu Ra’uf who said that he resides in Gandu area of Jama’are town, was arrested by the State Police Command. Upon interrogation, he confessed to have conspired with one Abdulkadir Haladu of Chikamidari, in the area to perpetrate the crime.