Tragedy struck in Kirfi Local Government Area of Bauchi State as 70-year-old Talatu Joshua was lynched by four young men over allegations of witchcraft.
The incident occurred shortly after she attended Mass at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Kurba. She was ambushed by the suspects, who accused her of being responsible for an illness afflicting one of their wives.
The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the gruesome murder, identifying the assailants as Rilwanu Usman, Ali Isa, Ila Alhaji Marafa, and Jamilu Malam Usman. According to police spokesperson CSP Ahmed Wakili, the attack happened on March 12, 2025, when the suspects inflicted multiple injuries on the elderly woman, including a severe wound beneath her left ear.
Talatu was rushed to the General Hospital in Kirfi but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Authorities launched an investigation, leading to the arrest and detention of the four suspects at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further questioning. The police revealed that the attack was incited by a traditional healer’s claim that Talatu was responsible for the illness of Ramatu Yusuf, the wife of one of the suspects.
Johanna Haruna, the victim’s son, dismissed the witchcraft allegations as baseless, describing his mother as a victim of jungle justice.
“On March 12, 2025, I had just returned home when my son, Kefas, ran to me, saying grandma had been beaten and was lying by the roadside. He told me the attackers were Rilwanu, Ali, Jamilu, and Sama’ila. I rushed to the location on my bike, hoping to find her alive, but she was already gone,” Johanna recounted.
Shocked and devastated, he immediately reported the incident to the police in Kirfi.
“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 did not take immediate action,” he lamented.
Kefas Dennis, the Catechist of St. Benedict Catholic Church in Kurba, also spoke on the tragic incident, expressing concerns over the delay in justice.
“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 asked.
He confirmed that after Johanna reported the incident, he advised him to inform the police. However, despite lodging the report, there were no immediate arrests.
“The police arrived around 7 pm, conducted an investigation, and took photographs. The next day, they instructed the family to proceed with the burial. That evening, I accompanied Johanna to the station to ask about the next steps, but the police assured us that investigations were ongoing and asked for patience,” he added.
To prevent religious tensions, the Catechist urged the Christian community to remain calm and allow security operatives to handle the matter. He also informed their reverend father, who called for peace and trust in the authorities.
Nearly a week after the attack, the police finally arrested the four suspects. The Catechist confirmed their detention after visiting the station.
Meanwhile, residents of Kirfi have called on the Bauchi State Government and security agencies to ensure justice is served, expressing concern over the rising cases of jungle justice in communities.
