Police Arrest Man For Killing 80-Year-Old Uncle, Burning Corpse Over Witchcraft Allegations

 

A 35-year-old-man, Haruna Ezekiel, has allegedly killed his 80-year-old paternal uncle, Sunday Saleh, over witchcraft allegations.

The suspect was said to have killed the octogenarian and burnt his body with his house for allegedly initiating his son into witchcraft activities.

Confirming the horrific incident, on Thursday, the Bauchi State Command of Nigeria Police Force, said the suspect committed the crime on December 6, 2022 when he confronted the deceased and, accused him of initiating his son into witchcraft.

Command's spokesman, SP Ahmed Wakil, who confirmed the incident in statement, said the suspect who had been arrested, hit the octogenarian with a stick on the head and after killing him, dragged the body into his house and set it ablaze to cover the crime.

According to the statement, "On December 6, 2022, Information received by Tafawa Balewa Divisional Police headquarters revealed that on the 05th December 2022 complainant (name withheld) 'm' aged 44yrs of Gongo village while returning from market, he saw flame coming out from the house of one Sunday Saleh (Deceased) ‘m’ aged 80yrs old of the same address," the statement read.

“He rushed to the scene to ascertain what was happening. On arrival, he met one Haruna Ezekiel (suspect) ‘m’ aged 35yrs of the same address at the scene and discovered that he killed and burnt the said Sunday Saleh inside the house. He (the suspect) later, dug a shallow grave and buried the body behind the burnt house.”

The Command's spokesman disclosed that preliminary investigation had shown that the victim is a paternal uncle to the suspect, who alleged to have initiated the suspect’s son “Chomwanda” into witchcraft.

“Further investigation, also revealed that the suspect discovered that the victim who is now deceased initiated his son into witchcraft unknowingly.

“The suspect was told by his son that the victim gave him a piece of meat to eat some days ago. Later, the victim met the son and told him that the meat he ate was an initiation into witchcraft and that requires his father (the suspect) must be sacrificed in the process.

“On hearing this, the suspect was furious and confronted the victim about the matter, as the victim has long been suspected to be notorious for witchcraft.”

The statement added, "The victim (Sunday Sale) apologized to the suspect on the matter but the suspect was short-tempered and hit the victim with a stick on the head and fainted unconsciously.

“He dragged the victim’s body into his house and set the entire house ablaze. As a result, the victim’s body was burnt beyond recognition.

“The suspect therefore swiftly packed the burnt body and buried it in a shallow grave behind the house.”

The PPRO said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Aminu Alhassan, condemned the action of the suspect for taking the laws into his hand instead of reporting to the police for proper investigation and prosecution”.