Pictured above is a 65 year old woman identified as Zainab Labbo who 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.
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