Brothers Remanded In Prison For Killing Father Over Witchcraft Accusations

A Magistrate court sitting in Yola, Adamawa has remanded two brothers, Ibrahim Yusuf, 62 and Samaila Yusuf, 48, in prison custody for allegedly killing their 85-year-old father, Yusuf Kwada, whom they accused of practising witchcraft in Adamawa State.

The Magistrate, Bilkisu Tijjaji, ordered the remand of the two brothers on Wednesday after they confessed to voluntarily killing their father by striking him on the head with a stick.

It was gathered that the two brothers on June 9, 2024, reportedly lured their octogenarian father into the bush where they clubbed him to death and abandoned his remains to rot, according to a Police First Information Report (FIR).

The incident occurred in Zah village, located in the Michika Local Government Area of the state.

READ: Reps Threaten To Invoke Powers Against MDAs Over Failure To Honour Summons

After the FIR was read, the prosecution counsel, ASP Ezra Bulus informed the court that one Amina Ibrahim, daughter of the deceased, reported the matter to the police on July 1, 2024.

Amina Ibrahim reported that on June 9, the defendants allegedly conspired together and murdered their father, subsequently abandoning his body in the bush, according to Bulus.

He averred that the defendants committed grievous offences which require the legal advice of the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).

Bulus then requested the court to adjourn the case to a later date.

He stated that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 160 and 191 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa 2018.

When asked by the chief magistrate whether the allegations against them were true, the defendants, who were not represented by any lawyer, admitted to committing the crime.

“Truly we killed our father. We led him into the bush and while there we hit his head with a big stick and he died.

“We decided to kill him because he used diabolic ways to kill six of his grandchildren in the family. He also killed some people in our community.

“Everyone is speaking ill of our family; they call him a witch and we can’t stand the shame and hurt he has brought upon us,” the 62-year-old son admitted.

After listening to the prosecuting counsel and the two siblings, the chief magistrate ordered their remand and adjourned the case to July 30 for mention or receipt of the outcome of DPP’s advice.