Zamfara: 85-Year-Old Witchcraft Torture Victim Brutally Attacked

• An 85-year-old woman in Zamfara State was brutally tortured by a mob after being accused of witchcraft by a new mother she had visited.
• The victim suffered severe injuries from beatings, was stripped naked, and forced to perform degrading rituals.
• Despite being hospitalized, the abuse continued, and the victim identified some of her attackers as family members.
• The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) reported that the victim's family members are obstructing efforts to provide legal and humanitarian assistance.
• AfAW is urging the Zamfara State Government and law enforcement to investigate the incident and prosecute those responsible for the human rights abuses.

Those who accused and subsequently subjected her to horrific abuse should not get away with their crimes.

An 85-year-old woman in Zamfara State endured severe physical abuse, including being beaten and stripped naked, after a woman whose newborn she had visited accused her of witchcraft. The incident, which highlights the persistent challenge of prosecuting human rights abuses stemming from witchcraft accusations in Nigeria, began when the elderly woman paid a visit to the new mother to exchange pleasantries. Despite the victim's denial of the accusation, a mob quickly gathered and subjected her to a brutal assault.

The attackers pelted her with stones, struck her with pestles and sticks, causing serious injuries that resulted in blood gushing from her head and hand. The mob then dragged her across the floor, pushed her into a toilet, and hit her with the toilet seat, threatening to kill her if the baby died. Further acts of degradation included stripping her naked, repeatedly slapping her, and forcing her to step over the newborn multiple times to prove her innocence, a demand she complied with under duress and repeated several times, including to the baby's mother. She was eventually taken to a hospital for treatment and later discharged.

Even after her discharge from the hospital, the accusations and abuse against the 85-year-old woman continued. The victim identified some of her attackers as family members, individuals she had known for many years. This case underscores the difficult reality faced by many victims of witchcraft accusations in Nigeria, particularly the elderly, where family involvement often complicates the path to justice.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) disclosed details of the incident, stating that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) office in Zamfara had shared an audio recording of the event with them on August 18, 2026. AfAW subsequently attempted to contact the NHRC multiple times to gather more information and offer legal and humanitarian assistance to the victim. However, these efforts to provide legal aid to witchcraft victims in Nigeria were reportedly blocked by the victim's own family members, who expressed a desire to keep the matter from becoming public.

Leo Igwe, Director of AfAW, described the incident as part of a broader, troubling pattern where individuals, especially women, who are accused of witchcraft and subjected to violence by relatives or community members, are often left without justice. He noted that family members are frequently among both the accusers and tormentors, and they often obstruct efforts to secure redress for victims of Nigeria human rights torture elderly individuals.

AfAW has urgently called upon the Zamfara State Government to intervene, ensure the elderly woman receives justice and necessary support, and monitor the Zamfara State Government's response. Igwe also urged law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident and initiate the prosecution of witchcraft accusers in Zamfara, holding all responsible individuals accountable for the alleged assault. He emphasized that witchcraft accusations should never be used to justify violence or shield perpetrators from legal consequences.

This case highlights the persistent challenge of prosecuting human rights abuses stemming from witchcraft accusations in Nigeria, particularly when family members obstruct justice. The victim, who is now seeking justice, was photographed with a bruised face and injuries across her body, a stark testament to the horrific ordeal. AfAW asserts that those who accused and subjected her to such abuse must not escape accountability.

Igwe stressed that these serious violations should not be excused or swept under the carpet, advocating for the arrest, prosecution, and jailing of the perpetrators. Lawyers should monitor the Zamfara State Government's response and potential legal actions to hold perpetrators accountable and protect vulnerable individuals from similar violence, ensuring that such acts of torture against the elderly are met with the full force of the law.

This case highlights the persistent challenge of prosecuting human rights abuses stemming from witchcraft accusations in Nigeria, particularly when family members obstruct justice. Lawyers should monitor the Zamfara State Government's response and potential legal actions to hold perpetrators accountable and protect vulnerable individuals from similar violence.

Source: Original reporting via Advocacy for Alleged Witches