A tragic incident has shocked residents of Wailo town in Ganjuwa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, as a 7-year-old girl, Rukayya Muhammad, has permanently lost her eyesight after her elder brother allegedly plucked out both of her eyes for a purported money ritual.
According to reports, the suspect, Auwalu Muhammad, who is Rukayya’s biological brother, allegedly lured her into a nearby bush where he committed the gruesome act in a desperate attempt to acquire wealth through ritual means.
Their father, whose name was not disclosed, narrated that Auwalu deceived his younger sister before attacking her and forcefully removing both eyes.
The little girl was immediately rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi for urgent medical attention.
Confirming the incident, Dr. Shahir Umar Bello, an ophthalmologist at ATBUTH, said Rukayya’s eyes were completely damaged and that she would never regain her sight again.
“Both eyes were removed completely. Unfortunately, there is no medical possibility of restoring her vision,” Dr. Bello said.
The heart-wrenching case has sparked widespread outrage and sorrow within the Bauchi community and beyond, with many calling for justice and stronger measures against ritual-related crimes.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the suspect’s arrest or ongoing investigation at the time of filing this report.