The Niger State Police Command has apprehended three individuals in connection with the murder of a 65-year-old woman, Tani Nuhu, who was accused of witchcraft. The arrests were announced by the police spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement released on October 8, 2026.

According to the police, the main suspect, Mohammed Sani, allegedly entered the victim's home in Kokolo village and killed her. The incident reportedly took place on October 3, 2026, at around 2 PM, when police received a report about the murder. Following the report, detectives from Nasko Division were dispatched to the scene, leading to the subsequent arrests of Sani and two other suspects, Isa Lamaran and Abdullahi Hamidu.

During police interrogation, Sani disclosed that he had been invited by Lamaran and Hamidu, along with another suspect, Rufa'i Gado, who remains at large, to commit the crime. Sani claimed that he was contracted as a wizard to identify and kill three elderly women in the community based on allegations of witchcraft.

The police statement detailed that Lamaran provided Sani with a hoe to carry out the murder, while Hamidu allegedly promised him two plots of land and the hand of his daughter in marriage if he succeeded in the task. Following the murder of Nuhu, Sani also inflicted serious injuries on another woman before his arrest.

Currently, all three suspects are in custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna. They are undergoing further investigations, with plans to apprehend the remaining accomplice, Gado. Once the investigation is complete, the suspects will be charged with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and causing grievous bodily harm.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding accusations of witchcraft in some Nigerian communities, where such allegations can lead to violence and tragic outcomes. The police have urged the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to report any suspicions to the authorities instead.