A 30-year-old man, Hamza Umar, has been arrested by the police in Bauchi after he poured kerosene on a girl and set her ablaze for alleged witchcraft.

In a statement on Tuesday, the state police spokesperson, SP Ahmed Wakil, said the suspect committed the crime when the victim entered his house in the Rafin Albasa area of the Bauchi metropolis, claiming she was sent by her older sister to kill the suspect.

”The suspect said that he attempted to make the girl leave his house, but he said that she insisted that she must bury some charms in the corner of the house,” stated Mr Wakil. “The suspect became furious and poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze in his compound, claiming she was a witch.”

He explained that on receiving the information, detectives rushed to the scene and evacuated the victim to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, for immediate medical attention.

“A discreet Investigation has been instituted to unravel the exact circumstances that led to the situation. The suspect will be charged to court for the established offence upon completion of the investigation,” he said.

In another development, he said the operatives arrested suspects for criminal conspiracy and car theft.

He said a team of police detectives attached to ‘C’ Divisional Police Headquarters in Bauchi arrested one Yusuf Muhammed, 34, and recovered a vehicle with reg no. AP-675-BAU ‘Pontiac Vibe’ black with chassis no. 5428XL62884242598 worth N1.5 million.

Mr Wakil said the suspect confessed to the crime and mentioned one Mohammed Auwal, at large, as his accomplice.

(NAN)