A native doctor in the Kuchibiyi community of Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, narrowly escaped death after testing a self-made “bulletproof” charm by shooting himself in the stomach.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, left the man, identified as Ismail Usman, in critical condition. According to local residents, the charm failed to protect him, leading to serious injuries.
Samson Ayuba, a resident of the community, described the shocking scene. “The man is a native doctor who prepares concoctions and traditional herbs. On Thursday, he tried to test a locally made gun on himself after wearing a bulletproof charm, but it failed to protect him,” Ayuba said.
Witnesses rushed to help after Usman collapsed. He was initially taken to Kubwa General Hospital for emergency treatment before being transferred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada for advanced care.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command confirmed the incident, with the spokesperson, SP Adeh Josephine, providing further details. “The victim used his locally made gun to shoot himself in the stomach. Our operatives from the Byazhin division responded swiftly and found him in critical condition,” she said.
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Police also conducted a search of the native doctor’s house, where they recovered a homemade gun and various charms.
SP Josephine added that the native doctor would face legal charges, including unlawful possession of firearms and attempted suicide, as stipulated under Section 231 of the Penal Code Law.
“The police are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. This should serve as a warning to others engaging in similar reckless acts,” she stated.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, condemned the incident and urged the public to avoid dangerous and illegal practices. “This situation illustrates the serious risks of engaging in reckless behaviour. We strongly advise the community to avoid such dangerous practices,” he said.
The incident has sparked discussions within the community about the dangers of unregulated traditional practices and illegal firearms, with many urging the authorities to take stricter measures to prevent similar occurrences.