Police confirm mob killing of 3 people over alleged witchcraft in Adamawa

The Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed the killing of three people accused of witchcraft.

The Command, in a statement signed by police image maker, Suleiman Nguroje, said the complainants gave the names of the victims of the brutal killing as Lazarus Bashiru, Galion Isa, and Ajasko Yakubu.

“On the 14/9/2024, one Dogara Sabon Reza and Jeri Dogara reported at Tigno Divisional Police Headquarters that one Salestina Bala and her collaborators conspired, tortured and killed three people who they accused of witchcraft,” the Command said.

The victims and suspected culprits are residents of Lamurde Local Government Area.

Condemning the extra-judicial killings, the Command said it deployed security to arrest and bring the perpetrators to book.

“Preliminary investigations led to the arrest of the suspect as this cruel and violent manner of hers will lead to a breakdown of law and order and is totally unacceptable,” the police stated.

The Command indicated, however, that it was compelled to issue the explanation after speculation of communal unrest in Lamurde hit Adamawa State, Monday morning.

DAILY POST reports that the said speculation resulted from a writer who had done what he termed a public alert and put it on social media at the dawn of Monday proclaiming that violent clashes had killed six people in Lamurde.

Describing the report as fake news, the Adamawa Police Command said the content of the report suggesting that there were Lunguda/Waja clashes resulting in multiple violent killings was particularly inciting and condemnable.

“There’s no iota of truth, neither was there any Lunguda/Waja clashes,” the police asserted, advising writers who mean well for society to be wary of their posts.