How Brothers Locked Up, Starved Cousin To Death For Witchcraft

Two men have been arrested by the Nassarawa State Police for allegedly locking up their 35-year-old cousin and starving him to death over allegation of witchcraft.

The Acting Commissioner of Police in the State, Shettima Muhammad, who confirmed the arrest on Monday, said the force got information on November 30 that the deceased, Mohammed Sani, had his hands and legs tied, and locked in his room where he was starved to death.

Muhammad said the deceased was hurriedly buried by the family, adding that investigations were ongoing to arrest others involved in the crime.

He added that the two arrested suspects denied their involvement, claiming that they only participated in the burial after discovering Sani’s decomposing body in his room.

In a related development, 16 suspects arrested between October and November for various crimes across the state were paraded by the Acting Commissioner of Police.

He said 10 of the suspects were arrested for armed robbery, five for kidnapping and one for defilement.

On the case of defilement, Muhammad said the suspect, 21-year-old Habu Yusuf was arrested on October 31 for allegedly defiling a five-year-old girl.

He said the case was reported to the police by the victim’s mother on the fateful day when she found her daughter walking abnormally.

“Preliminary investigation showed that the suspect had also sexually molested two of his elder brother’s children, aged eight and 10 years, before nemesis caught up with him,” Muhammad added.