85-Year-Old Woman Allegedly Attacked, Stripped Over Witchcraft Accusation in Zamfara

An 85-year-old woman in Zamfara State has allegedly been brutally assaulted, stripped naked and subjected to humiliating treatment after she was accused of witchcraft during a visit to a woman who had recently given birth.

The incident was brought to public attention by the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW), which described the alleged attack as a serious violation of the elderly woman’s rights.

The organisation’s Director, Leo Igwe, said the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Zamfara alerted AfAW to the case after sharing an audio recording of the incident with the organisation on August 18, 2026.

According to Igwe, the elderly woman had visited the new mother simply to exchange pleasantries. However, she was allegedly accused of being responsible for witchcraft.

Despite reportedly denying the accusation, a mob allegedly gathered and subjected her to physical assault.

Igwe alleged that the woman was pelted with stones and beaten with sticks and pestles, leaving her with injuries to her head and hand.

He further claimed that her attackers dragged her along the ground before forcing her into a toilet, where she was allegedly hit with a toilet seat and threatened with death if anything happened to the newborn baby.

The activist also alleged that the elderly woman was stripped naked and forced to repeatedly step over the newborn baby as members of the mob attempted to determine whether she was a witch.

She was reportedly ordered to carry out the same act over the baby’s mother, while some members of the group allegedly discussed inviting a traditional priest to investigate the witchcraft accusation.

Following the alleged assault, the woman was taken to a hospital for medical treatment and was later discharged.

However, Igwe claimed that the intimidation did not end after she returned home.

He said the victim had identified some of those allegedly involved in the attack as relatives whom she had known for many years.

Igwe said AfAW had contacted the NHRC several times in an effort to obtain further information about the incident and arrange legal and humanitarian assistance for the victim.

He, however, claimed that some members of the woman’s family opposed efforts to assist her because they allegedly feared that making the matter public could bring unwanted attention to the family.

According to the activist, the incident reflects the wider dangers faced by people accused of witchcraft, particularly elderly women who may become victims of violence, intimidation and social exclusion without adequate access to justice.

Igwe called on the Zamfara State Government to intervene, protect the elderly woman and ensure that anyone found responsible for the alleged assault is brought to justice.

He also urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute any individuals found to have participated in the attack.

The activist warned that accusations of witchcraft must never be used as an excuse to inflict violence on anyone, stressing that failure to hold perpetrators accountable could encourage similar incidents.

Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Command said the alleged assault had not been formally reported to the police.

The command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Yazid, however, said the police would investigate the matter following the information that had now emerged.

“This incident was not reported to the police, but with this, we are going to find out and do the necessary,” Yazid said in a text message to our correspondent.

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