An 85-year-old woman in Zamfara State was allegedly subjected to brutal treatment after she was accused of witchcraft during a visit to a woman who
had recently given birth.
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches raised the alarm over the incident in a statement by its Director, Leo Igwe, on Friday.
Igwe said the National Human Rights Commission in Zamfara drew the organisation’s attention to the case after sharing an audio recording of the incident with it on August 18, 2026.
He explained that the elderly woman had visited the new mother to exchange pleasantries but was allegedly accused of being a witch. Although she reportedly rejected the allegation, a mob allegedly gathered and attacked her.
According to Igwe, the woman was pelted with stones and beaten with sticks and pestles, sustaining injuries to her head and hand.
He alleged that her attackers dragged her on the ground before pushing her into a toilet, where she was reportedly struck with a toilet seat and threatened with death if anything happened to the baby.
Igwe further alleged that the woman was stripped naked and forced to repeatedly step over the newborn as the mob attempted to determine whether she was a witch.
He said the elderly woman was also allegedly ordered to perform the same act over the baby's mother, while her attackers discussed inviting a traditional priest to examine the witchcraft allegation.
The woman was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment and later discharged, but Igwe claimed that the intimidation continued after she returned home.
He said the victim had identified some of her alleged attackers as relatives she had known for several years.
Igwe stated that AfAW had contacted the NHRC on several occasions in an attempt to obtain more information and arrange legal and humanitarian assistance for the victim.
He claimed, however, that some members of the woman's family opposed efforts to assist her because they allegedly wanted to prevent the matter from becoming public.
The activist said the incident highlighted the plight of people accused of witchcraft, particularly women who are allegedly subjected to violence and subsequently denied access to justice.
He appealed to the Zamfara State Government to step into the matter, protect the victim and ensure that those responsible for the alleged assault are brought to justice.
Igwe also urged the police to investigate the allegations and prosecute anyone found to have participated in the attack.
He said accusations of witchcraft should never be allowed to become a justification for violence, warning that failure to punish perpetrators would encourage similar abuses.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Command said the alleged assault had not been formally reported to it.
The command's spokesman, Abubakar Yazid, however, said the police would investigate the matter following the information that had emerged.
“This incident was not reported to the police but with this we are going to find out and do the necessary,” Yazid told our correspondent in a text message.
