Woman accused of witchcraft gets N300,000 compensation

The son of a needy woman in Adamawa State who was accused of witchcraft has testified how his mother was subjected to “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment” by her accusers.

Moreso, the son lamented to a panel of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sitting in Yola that the accusation which started as a neighbourhood gossip; was reinforced by a pastor who was later joined by some of his church members in abusing his mother.

Speaking in Hausa, the son said:

“My mother was tortured, beaten to a stupor, injured, and stripped naked for alleged witchcraft, cultism, initiating children and some members of the community into witchcraft,”

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However, the NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, who doubles as the Chairman of the NHRC SGBV panel, told everyone present that according to the law of Adamawa State, anyone suspected of witchcraft or any perceived wrong should be handed over to the police and not paraded publicly or inflicted with any form of injury.

A witness before the panel, who reinforced the charge against the woman, said that she was responsible for the death of his father, his two brothers, and a cousin.

Consequently, the panel ruled that the sum of N300,000 be paid by the respondents to the victim for the cost of treatment incurred as a result of injuries inflicted on her by members of the community.

However, the NHRC said the panel would make a formal complaint to the state commissioner of police to investigate the matter. Adding that the accused woman would be investigated for alleged witchcraft under Section 187 of the Adamawa State Penal Code 2018.