BAUCHI, Nigeria – A man, Hamza Umar, aged 30, was arrested in Bauchi State for allegedly pouring kerosene on a girl and setting her ablaze following accusations of witchcraft.
The arrest was confirmed in a statement on Monday, June 19, 2023, by the Police Public Relations Officer in Bauchi, SP Ahmed Wakil.
According to the police, the suspect committed the act after the girl entered his house in the Rafin Albasa area of Bauchi, claiming she had been sent by her older sister to kill him.
The suspect said that the girl refused to leave his house and insisted on burying charms in the corner of the house. Angered by her claims, the suspect set her ablaze.
“On receiving the information, a team of detectives rushed to the scene and evacuated the victim to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, ATBUTH, Bauchi, for immediate medical attention,” said Wakil.
He added that a thorough investigation is underway to understand the exact circumstances that led to the horrific incident.
Umar will be charged to court for the crime as soon as the investigation concludes.
Wakil underscored that no individual has the right to mete out such brutal treatment to another human being.
In a separate development, police operatives in Bauchi arrested suspects for criminal conspiracy and car theft.
Yusuf Muhammed, 34, was arrested, and a vehicle worth N1.5 million was recovered.
The suspect confessed to the crime and named an accomplice, Mohammed Auwal, who remains at large.
