The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has called on the Zamfara State government to release and compensate Mr Samalia Bala, who has been jailed since June 2026 for 'witchcraft and juju'. This is not Bala's first encounter with the law, as he has been imprisoned three times for the alleged offence. His case has been ongoing since 2020, when he was a teacher at a local school and a female student fell ill, mentioning his name during her illness.
The student was later found to be a sickle cell patient after blood tests, but her parents and relatives attributed her ailment to witchcraft and accused Bala. He was remanded for six months but later released. In 2024, Bala was jailed again, only to be pardoned by the Grand Khadi after two months. However, in June 2026, he was arrested and remanded once more and remains in prison. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has visited Bala in prison and plans to provide him with legal and humanitarian support.
A legal expert in the region has stated that the laws in Nigeria do not recognize the offences of juju or witchcraft. According to the expert, the VAPP LAW actually criminalizes witchcraft accusations, and since the law does not recognize the offence, Bala's remand has no legal basis under the administration of criminal justice law. The expert advised that the best line of action is to engage the services of a good lawyer to file a preliminary objection and seek the DPP's intervention to take over and discontinue if no offence is found.
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches plans to engage a lawyer to file a preliminary objection and is pursuing other options to secure Bala's release. The organization's contacts in Gusau have visited Bala in prison, and more visits have been scheduled in the coming weeks and months. Local and international efforts are being made to free Bala, who has been incarcerated for an offence that has no basis in law.
Zamfara State authorities have been urged to understand that remanding Bala for the offence of 'witchcraft and juju' is a judicial embarrassment in the 21st century. His incarceration ridicules the legal system and makes a mockery of the rule of law. The Sharia Penal Code Law of Zamfara State, Section 406, primarily addresses offences tied to prohibited traditional religious practices.
The case has drawn attention to the issue of witch hunts in Nigeria, particularly in Zamfara State. Many have expressed concern about the use of Sharia law to prosecute people for offences that are not recognized under the constitution. Bala's case is seen as a test of the state's commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting human rights.
As Bala's case continues to garner attention, the Advocacy for Alleged Witches remains committed to providing him with support and pursuing his release. The organization's efforts to free Bala are ongoing, and it is hoped that his case will bring about a change in the way witchcraft accusations are handled in Nigeria.
Key points
- The Advocacy for Alleged Witches urges the Zamfara State government to release and compensate Mr Samalia Bala.
- Bala has been imprisoned three times for the alleged offence of witchcraft and juju.
- A legal expert has stated that the laws in Nigeria do not recognize the offences of juju or witchcraft.
