A 30-year-old man, Hamza Umar, has been arrested by the operatives of the Bauchi State Police Command after he poured kerosene on a girl and set her ablaze on the allegation that she was a witch.

This was disclosed via a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakil, on Monday, June 19.

Wakil said the suspect committed the crime when the girl entered his house in the Rafin Albasa area of Bauchi metropolis, claiming that she was sent by her older sister to kill him.

He said: “The suspect said that he attempted to make the girl leave his house but he said that she insisted that she must bury some charms in the corner of the house.

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“The suspect became furious and poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze in his compound, claiming she was a witch.”

The police spokesman stated that on receiving the information, a team of detectives rushed to the scene and evacuated the girl to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi for medical attention.

“A discreet investigation has been instituted to unravel the exact circumstances that led to the situation. The suspect will be charged to court for the established offence upon completion of the investigation,” he added.

Wakil warned that nobody has the right to treat a human being in such a barbaric manner.

In another development, he said the police operatives arrested suspects for criminal conspiracy and car theft in Bauchi State.

He disclosed that a team of police detectives attached to ‘C’ Divisional Police Headquarters in Bauchi, arrested a 34-year-old suspect, Yusuf Muhammed, and recovered a vehicle with reg no. AP-675-BAU  ‘Pontiac Vibe’ black with chassis no. 5428XL62884242598 worth N1.5 million.

Wakil said the suspect voluntarily confessed to the crime and also mentioned one Mohammed Auwal, who is at large, as his accomplice.

The Star