85-year-old woman brutalised over witchcraft accusation in Zamfara

An 85-year-old woman in Zamfara State has allegedly been subjected to severe physical assault after being accused of witchcraft while visiting a woman who had recently given birth.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW), which raised the alarm over the incident on Friday, said the elderly woman was attacked by a mob following the accusation.

AfAW Director, Leo Igwe, said the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) office in Zamfara shared an audio recording of the incident with him on August 18, 2026.

According to Igwe, the woman had gone to the home of a new mother to exchange pleasantries when she was accused of being responsible for the child’s condition.

The elderly woman reportedly denied the allegation, but the situation allegedly escalated after other people gathered around her.

Igwe said the woman was beaten with stones, pestles and sticks, leaving her with injuries to her head and hand. She was also allegedly dragged, pushed into a toilet and struck with a toilet seat.

The attackers reportedly threatened to kill her if anything happened to the newborn.

The woman was also allegedly stripped and subjected to what was described as a witchcraft test, during which she was ordered to step over the baby several times and also step over the baby’s mother.

Following the assault, she reportedly received medical treatment and was later discharged from hospital.

However, the alleged harassment did not end after her release. According to AfAW, the woman continued to face accusations and intimidation and was able to identify some of those she claimed participated in the assault, including members of her family.

Igwe said the organisation reached out to the NHRC to obtain further details about the incident and explore ways of supporting the victim. He, however, said her family was reluctant to accept assistance because they did not want the matter to attract publicity.

He condemned the attack, insisting that allegations of witchcraft could not be used to justify violence against anyone, particularly an elderly woman.

Igwe called on the Zamfara State Government and security agencies to intervene, investigate the incident and ensure that those responsible were prosecuted.

He also urged authorities to take allegations of witchcraft-related abuse seriously, warning that failure to act could encourage further attacks against vulnerable people.

Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Command said the matter had not formally been reported to it.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Yazid, however, promised that the command would look into the allegation.

“This incident was not reported to the police but with this we are going to find out and do the necessary,” Yazid said.

The incident has renewed concerns over violence linked to witchcraft accusations, particularly against vulnerable members of society, and the need for authorities to prevent such allegations from escalating into physical abuse or threats to life.