Irate mob strip and brutally beat elderly woman in Zamfara after accusing her of witchcraft

Saturday, September 5, 2026 - An 85-year-old woman in Zamfara State was reportedly beaten, stripped naked and subjected to other forms of physical abuse after she was accused of witchcraft by a woman.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches disclosed this in a statement by its Director, Leo Igwe, on Friday.

According to Igwe, the National Human Rights Commission office in Zamfara shared an audio recording of the incident with AfAW on August 18, 2026.

He said the elderly woman had visited the woman who had recently given birth to exchange pleasantries when the mother allegedly accused her of being a witch.

Igwe said the woman denied the allegation, but the accusation reportedly attracted a mob, which allegedly attacked her.

He said, “A mob gathered and started pelting her with stones, beating her with pestles and sticks. In the process, she sustained serious injuries, and blood was gushing out from her head and hand.

“The mob dragged her on the floor, pushed her into the toilet, hit her with the toilet seat, and threatened to kill her if the baby died.”

The AfAW director added that the attackers allegedly stripped the woman naked, slapped her repeatedly and ordered her to step over the newborn several times to prove that she was not a witch.

“She complied and stepped over the baby. They forced her to repeat the act multiple times. The mob forced her to do the same to the mother of the baby,” Igwe stated.

He further said the attackers discussed bringing a traditional priest to determine whether the woman was a witch and also mentioned taking her to the police station.

According to him, the woman was eventually taken to a hospital where she received treatment before she was discharged.

Igwe, however, said the alleged accusations and abuse continued after her discharge, adding that the victim identified some of her attackers as family members whom she had known for many years.

“The victim is now asking for justice. The photo made available to AfAW showed the woman weeping with a bruised face and injuries all over her body,” he said.

He said AfAW subsequently contacted the NHRC office several times in an effort to obtain more information and provide legal and humanitarian assistance to the woman.

Igwe said the organisation was informed that members of the victim’s family had blocked efforts to support her because they did not want the matter publicised.

He described the incident as part of a broader pattern in which victims of alleged witchcraft persecution, particularly women, are left without justice after suffering violence from relatives or members of their communities.

“Many alleged witches, especially women subjected to torture and persecution, suffer a similar fate. They are left to lick their wounds and die with the trauma,” Igwe said.

“Family members, who in many cases are among the accusers and tormentors, block efforts to secure justice and seek redress. The pattern must be disrupted.”

Igwe called on the Zamfara State Government to intervene and ensure that the elderly woman receives justice and the necessary support.

He also urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident and prosecute anyone found responsible for the alleged assault.

“She is physically and psychologically hurt and needs justice to heal and realise closure,” he said.

“Those who accused and subsequently subjected her to horrific abuse should not get away with their crimes. They should be arrested, prosecuted, and jailed.”

Igwe said witchcraft accusations should not be used to justify violence or shield perpetrators from accountability.

“These serious violations should not be excused or swept under the carpet. The public should speak out and make sure that alleged witches do not continue to suffer and die in silence.

“Witch persecution persists because of impunity, because persecutors are not penalised.”

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara State Police Command, Abubakar Yazid, said the incident had not been reported to the police.

Yazid, in a text message to our correspondent, said, “This incident was not reported to the police but with this, we are going to find out and do the necessary.”