How My Mother Was Killed Over Witchcraft Allegations In Bauchi

Tragedy struck in Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State as a 70-year-old septuagenarian, Talatu Joshua, was lynched by a group of four Muslim boys over witchcraft allegations.

The victim tragically lost her life shortly after attending Mass at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Kurba, Kirfi Local Government Area, Bauchi State.

She was ambushed by four young men who accused her of witchcraft.

Recall that the Bauchi Police Command confirmed the gruesome murder of Joshua by four suspects

The Spokesman of the command, CSP Ahmed Wakili in a statement issued last month explained that the assailants— Rilwanu Usman, Ali Isa, Ila Alhaji Marafa, and Jamilu Malam Usman—ambushed the elderly woman on March 12, 2025, inflicting multiple injuries, including a severe wound beneath her left ear.

The victim was rushed to the General Hospital in Kirfi where she was later pronounced dead.

Following an investigation, the Command arrested the four suspects and detained them at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further questioning.

The statement revealed that the attack was triggered by a traditional healer’s claim that Talatu was responsible for the illness of Ramatu Yusuf, the wife of one of the suspects.

Acting on this accusation, the suspects allegedly confronted Talatu, accused her of witchcraft and threatened before attacking her with sticks, leading to her death.

Narrating the harrowing ordeal that led to his mother’s death, the son Johanna Haruna, in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST, dismissed the accusations of witchcraft as baseless, saying his mother was never a witch but a victim of jungle justice.

His words “On March 2, 2025, I had just returned home when my son, Kefas, ran to me, saying grandma had been beaten and was lying on the roadside.

“He told me the attackers were Rilwanu, Ali, Jamilu, and Sama’ila who were all Muslims. I rushed to the location on my bike, hoping to find her alive, but she was already gone.”

Shocked, he immediately alerted the police in Kirfi, reporting the incident to Inspector Jerry, who assured him of police intervention.

“I carried my mother’s body home in tears, waiting for help. When the police finally arrived, they took photographs and filed a report but took no immediate action,” he lamented.

The Catechist of St. Benedict Catholic Church in Kurba, Kirfi, Kefas Dennis said “When the police gave the go-ahead for her burial, I personally conducted the rites, but my heart was heavy with questions.”

“Why did it take six days for justice to begin? Why was an innocent woman killed so gruesomely?” He queried.

According to him, after Johanna informed him of the attack, he advised him to report it to the police.

However, despite the report, no immediate arrests were made.

“The police arrived around 7 pm, conducted an investigation, and took photographs. The next day, they told the family to proceed with the burial.

“That evening, I accompanied Johanna to the police station to inquire about the next steps, but they assured us that investigations were ongoing and asked for patience.

“The police explained that they were monitoring the suspects and did not want to make premature arrests,” he said.

To prevent religious tensions, the Catechist urged the Christian community to remain calm and allow security operatives to handle the matter.

He also reported the incident to their reverend father, who called for peace and urged the community to trust the authorities.

DAILY POST reports that nearly a week after the attack, the police finally arrested the four suspects.

The Catechist confirmed their detention upon visiting the station.

Meanwhile, residents of Kirfi have called on the Bauchi State Government and security agencies to ensure justice is served, expressing concerns over the rising cases of jungle justice in communities