The Zamfara State Hisbah Commission has arrested a woman, Khadija Abdullah, over allegations of involvement in activities linked to witchcraft in the Gadar Baga area of Gusau, the state capital.
The commission’s Public Relations Officer, Umar Haruna Tsafe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, July 15, 2026, saying the arrest followed complaints from community leaders about alleged spiritual practices at the suspect’s residence.
According to the statement, operatives of the commission raided the residence after receiving reports from residents.
The Director of Operations of the commission, Lawal Abubakar Maradun, said the suspect admitted during interrogation that she used certain perfumes and claimed to be possessed by spirits.
He further alleged that the suspect told investigators she recited prayers into water and gave it to people as a form of treatment.
The commission also said another woman, identified as Asiya Lawal, was found at the residence during the operation.
According to the statement, Lawal told officials that she had visited the house to seek treatment for what she described as a spiritual ailment.
A resident quoted by the commission alleged that the house had become a regular destination for people seeking traditional or spiritual remedies, with visitors reportedly arriving both during the day and at night.
The Chairman of the Zamfara State Hisbah Commission, Sheikh Umar Hassan Gusau, has directed that investigations be intensified to establish the facts surrounding the allegations and ensure that appropriate action is taken in line with the law.
The commission did not disclose whether any formal charges had been filed against the suspect, as investigations into the matter continue.
