RIGHTS GROUP QUESTIONS HISBAH ARREST OF ZAMFARA WOMAN

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has criticised the Zamfara State Hisbah Commission over the reported arrest of a woman, Khadija Abdullah, on allegations of witchcraft and spiritual practices.

The group’s director, Leo Igwe, said the arrest raised questions about the legal basis for detaining the woman, arguing that alleged witchcraft was not recognised as a criminal offence under Nigerian law.

According to the group, Abdullah was arrested in Gusau following complaints from community leaders who accused her of engaging in prohibited spiritual activities at her residence.

Igwe said Hisbah officials searched the woman’s apartment and reportedly found another woman who had gone there seeking spiritual treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

He said Abdullah told the officials that she provided spiritual treatment by reciting prayers over water and giving it to people who sought traditional or spiritual remedies.

The Hisbah chairman, Sheikh Umar Hassan Gusau, reportedly ordered further investigation to establish the facts surrounding the allegations and determine appropriate action in accordance with the law.

Igwe questioned the authority of Hisbah to determine whether a person was involved in witchcraft and called on the commission to stop what he described as the persecution of people over their religious or spiritual beliefs.

The controversy has also attracted reactions from legal and rights advocates, including lawyer and former National Human Rights Commission chairman Chidi Odinkalu, who questioned the legal authority of Hisbah to pursue alleged witchcraft cases.

Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Command said it had not received a formal complaint concerning the matter. The police advised the victim’s relatives to formally report the case so that an investigation could be initiated.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches said it had contacted the National Human Rights Commission and the International Federation of Women Lawyers in Gusau to establish Abdullah’s current status and the circumstances surrounding the case.