The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 33-year-old woman, Hauwa'u Haruna, for allegedly killing her 43-year-old co-wife, Jamila Adamu, with a pestle during a domestic incident at Tafawa Balewa Housing Estate in Bauchi metropolis. Police say the attack happened on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at about 4:05 p.m., after the C-Division Police Station received information about a domestic dispute involving the two women, who lived in the same household with their husband.
Police say suspect acted under hallucinations
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, confirmed in a statement that preliminary investigations indicated Haruna, the second wife, picked up a pestle and struck Adamu on the forehead, causing her to lose consciousness. Habib said the suspect was “allegedly acting under hallucinations” when she armed herself with the pestle and attacked her co-wife.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the second wife, one Hauwa'u Haruna, 33 years old, allegedly acting under hallucinations, armed herself with a pestle and struck the first wife, one Jamila Adamu, 43 years old, on the forehead. Consequently, the victim fell unconscious,” Habib said.
Victim dies at hospital, suspect arrested
Detectives attached to the C-Division were mobilised to the scene, which was documented by the police. Adamu was rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, where she was certified dead by a medical doctor. “The scene was documented, and the victim was rushed to the Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, where she was certified dead by a medical doctor. Her corpse has been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy,” Habib added.
Police arrested Haruna and recovered the pestle allegedly used in the attack as an exhibit. The Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for discreet investigation and prosecution.
Suspect claims self-defense in her account
In a later account reported by QED, Haruna gave her own explanation, saying she had repeatedly dreamed that Adamu was trying to kill her and her children. She claimed that on the day of the incident, she believed Adamu had appeared to her in the form of a cat. She said she initially struck at what she thought was the animal with a food flask before, according to her account, it turned into Adamu.
Haruna said she then picked up a pestle kept beside her room and began hitting Adamu, telling her, “You cannot kill me because you have continued to harm me. Before you kill me, I will kill you.” She continued hitting Adamu until she fell to the ground. She then picked up her newborn twins and left the house, eventually going to her parents' home. She said she had initially intended to surrender herself to the police but became afraid of possible mob action.
Investigation ongoing, husband hospitalised
Police have not independently established the claims in Haruna's account, and the investigation remains ongoing. A subsequent police update disclosed that the husband of the deceased had been hospitalised after suffering trauma following the incident. Police said the case was still being investigated and would be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police has advised families to seek medical and psychosocial support for members experiencing mental health challenges and urged residents to report domestic violence to the appropriate authorities.
