An 85-year-old woman in Zamfara State has been beaten, stripped naked, and abused after a woman accused her of witchcraft. This incident happened after the elderly woman visited a new mother and her baby.
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) shared this information in a statement by its Director, Leo Igwe, on Friday.
Igwe revealed that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) office in Zamfara sent an audio recording of the incident to AfAW on August 18, 2026.
He explained that the elderly woman went to greet a woman who had just given birth. The mother then accused her of being a witch. Igwe said the elderly woman denied the claim, but this led to a mob attacking 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.”
Igwe added that the attackers stripped the woman naked, slapped her multiple times, and forced her to step over the newborn several times to prove she was not a witch.
He said the woman was beaten and threatened with death when she asked how she was supposed to do that. “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.
The attackers also talked about bringing a traditional priest to check if the woman was a witch and mentioned taking her to the police.
Eventually, the woman was taken to a hospital for treatment before being discharged. Igwe noted that the abuse continued even after she returned home. The victim recognized some of her attackers as family members she had known for 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.
AfAW contacted the NHRC office several times to get more information and support for the woman. Igwe said they learned that the victim’s family blocked help because they didn’t want the matter to go public.
He described this incident as part of a larger problem where victims of witchcraft accusations, especially women, often do not get justice after facing violence from family or community members.
“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 urged the Zamfara State Government to step in and ensure that the elderly woman gets justice and the support she needs. He also called on law enforcement to investigate the incident and punish anyone found guilty of the attack.
“She is physically and psychologically hurt and needs justice to heal and realize 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 stressed that witchcraft accusations should not be a reason for violence or to protect the perpetrators.
“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 penalized.”
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the Zamfara State Police Command, Abubakar Yazid, stated that the police have not received any report about the incident.
Yazid said in a text message, “This incident was not reported to the police but with this we are going to find out and do the necessary.”
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