The Zamfara State Hisbah Commission has arrested a woman in Gusau over allegations of engaging in witchcraft-related activities, following complaints from residents who claimed her home had become a gathering point for people seeking spiritual remedies.
The suspect, identified as Khadija Abdullah, was apprehended in the Gadar Baga area of Gusau after community leaders alerted the commission to alleged spiritual practices taking place at her residence. The arrest was confirmed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the commission’s Public Relations Officer, Umar Haruna Tsafe.
According to the commission, its operatives carried out a raid on the residence after receiving multiple complaints from members of the community. Officials said the operation was aimed at investigating claims that the house was being used for activities linked to alleged witchcraft and spiritual healing.
The commission’s Director of Operations, Lawal Abubakar Maradun, said the suspect told investigators that she used certain perfumes and claimed to be possessed by spirits. He added that she allegedly admitted to reciting prayers into water, which was then given to people who visited her seeking healing for various spiritual problems.
Another woman, identified as Asiya Lawal, was also found at the residence during the operation. According to the commission, she told officials she had gone there in search of treatment for what she described as a spiritual ailment.
A resident of the area, quoted in the statement, claimed the house had become well known among people seeking traditional or spiritual remedies, attracting visitors during both the day and night.
The Chairman of the Zamfara State Hisbah Commission, Sheikh Umar Hassan Gusau, has directed officials to intensify investigations to determine the credibility of the allegations and ensure that any further action taken is based on the outcome of the inquiry.
The commission has not announced any formal charges against the suspect, and investigations are ongoing.
