Hunted to death: Brutal fate of vulnerable women branded witches

In Nigeria, elderly women, widows and other vulnerable individuals are often accused of witchcraft and suffer brutal fates, according to a report by Victor Ayeni. The victims are frequently hunted, tortured, banished and even murdered without any substantial evidence. In one such case, Habse Ubale, a 30-year-old woman, was targeted in Garin Malam Village, Bauchi State, in July 2026.

While her husband, Audu Sabo, and their two children, Yakubu and Salih, managed to escape the attackers, Ubale was brutally killed by three men, allegedly sent to kill her. The attackers hacked her repeatedly with machetes as she pleaded for her life. Ubale's death was not isolated, as similar incidents have occurred across Nigeria, targeting elderly women and widows due to gender inequality, economic vulnerability, and deep-rooted social beliefs.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has condemned such human rights violations, yet they persist in many African countries, including Nigeria. In 2023, the Pan-African Parliament launched guidelines to protect vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities or albinism, urging African Union member states to criminalize violence, torture, banishment, and killings arising from witchcraft accusations.

Despite Nigeria's membership in the African Union, witchcraft accusations continue to fuel mob violence in several regions of the country.