Young Boy Ritualists in Kaduna Removed Eyes Begs to See his Mother & Grandmother

Residents of Bula area of Jushi, Zaria, are yet to recover from shock, after the brutal removal of a young boy's eyes in the neighbourhood.

When Malama Hadiza Usman said goodbye to her three-year-old grandchild, Abubakar Usman, on his way to evening Islamiyya class, it never occurred to her that danger lurked nearby. An hour later, she received shocking news.

In tears, Malama Hadiza told Daily Trust that she would never forget the incident for the rest of her life.

"I'd given him N5 to buy sweets on his way, on Sunday, January 24. He left the house 
with his brother Umar, but on their way they were intercepted by yet-to-be identified men who took him to an uncompleted building and gouged his eyes out."

According to Malama Hadiza, when the news of broke, she rushed to the scene, where her grandson lay, writhing bloodied. She said there were syringes and needles, as well as some substances believed to have been used by the suspected ritualists in removing the eyes of young Abubakar.

Malama Hadiza's screams drew a crowd to the scene, and the ward head of the area was invited. He, in return, informed the police and the district head. Usman was rushed to St. Luke's Hospital in Wusasa, Zaria, as nurses are presently on strike at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH).

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr. Gilbert, said on receiving the victim, they mobilised to give the boy the necessary assistance he required. However, the father of the boy, Usman Isa, said on the intervention of the emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, the boy was taken to a private eye hospital in Kaduna. He said:

"The Kaduna hospital has referred us back to ABUTH. Doctors have conducted surgery yesterday. From what they told us, the perpetrators have removed everything that has to do with the eyes, which would make fixing them difficult. However, doctors said that they would review the operation to see the outcome, hoping they can fix artificial ones."

Isa, in tears, told Daily Trust that the doctors said the artificial eyes would be fixed just to fill the holes, but not for the young boy to see.

"Except if Allah performs a miracle," he sobbed.

Another account of the incident revealed that the suspected ritualist approached little Abubakar pretending he was an uncle.

"The other children with the victim confirmed to us that the young man said he was a brother to Abubakar's mother and would soon bring him  back," a resident said.

At the hospital, little Abubakar was telling those around him to open his eyes to enable him see his mother and grandmother.

"Open my eyes, I want to see Mama. Mama, where are you? Where's Grandma?" he kept wailing.

Abubakar's mother, said to be in her parents' home, is so shocked that she hasn't been able to set her eyes on her son.

Police Area Commander in charge of Zaria, Muhammad D. Shehu, said they are trailing the perpetrators.

Residents of Bula area have demolished the uncompleted building where the crime was committed, vowing to monitor movement around such places.