Authorities at the Zamfara State Hisbah Commission have taken a woman, Khadija Abdullah, into custody in the Gadar Baga district of Gusau due to claims that she was involved in witchcraft. The arrest was announced on Tuesday by the commission’s spokesperson, Umar Haruna Tsafe, who noted that the operation was triggered by reports from local leaders regarding suspicious spiritual rituals performed at her home.
Lawal Abubakar Maradun, the commission’s Director of Operations, reported that Abdullah acknowledged using specific perfumes and claimed to be under the influence of spirits. She allegedly provided prayer-infused water to individuals as a medical treatment. During the raid, officers also discovered Asiya Lawal at the property; she explained that she had arrived there to find a cure for a spiritual condition.
Local witnesses described the residence as a frequent gathering spot for those pursuing traditional or spiritual healing at all hours. Sheikh Umar Hassan Gusau, the head of the Hisbah Commission, has mandated a deeper investigation to verify these claims and determine the next steps in the legal process.
