65 year old woman gets twelve strokes over witchcraft allegation in Sokoto

A 65 year old woman identified as Zainab Labbo was allegedly flogged with twelve strokes as punishment for practicing witchcraft in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto state.

According to The Sun, Zainab was flogged at the palace of the District Head, Alhaji Nasiru Malami Ahmed, in response to a complaint lodged against her by her daughter-in-law. Residents of the community say Zainab's daughter-in-law had lodged a complaint before the district head last year, alleging that her mother-in-law was aiding her son to maltreat her through diabolical means.

The palace authority summarily tried the accused and found her guilty of the allegation leveled against her. Zainab denied the allegation to journalists who were there to investigate the incident. She also confirmed that twelve strokes were administered on her by the palace guards on the order of the District Head.

Aggrieved members of the village recently held a press conference where they stated that the woman was not the first victim to suffer such an unjust treatment by palace authorities. They added that many residents have been invited to the palace and summarily tried for one offence or the other. They accused the District head, Alhaji Nasiru Malami Ahmed of high handedness. They called on the state governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, to come to their aid, as a matter of urgency.

However in response to the allegations of maltreatment, the younger brother to the district head, Alhaji Aliyu Sarkin-Yamma, and Village Head of Tsabre area, described the the allegations as “unfounded”. He explained that all disputes lodged at the palace are handled in accordance with the dictates of Shari’ah Law. He said both himself and his brother are running the affairs of the people with the absolute fear of God, saying, “we are only dispensing justice in accordance with Shari’ah Law and we are not afraid of any probe in this direction.”

The Divisional Police Officer in the area, Mr Ilyasu Tanko, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), when contacted, confirmed the receipt of the complaints of attacks from the villagers and said  that the police is appropriately investigating the matter.