An herbalist, Ismail Usman, is fighting for his life after a failed attempt to test a self-made ‘bulletproof’ charm by shooting himself in the stomach.
The bizarre incident occurred on November 23, 2024, at Kuchibuyi Village in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Usman, reportedly confident in the protective power of the charm he had concocted, used a locally fabricated shotgun to shoot himself.
However, the charm failed to deliver the promised protection, leaving him with severe injuries.
The spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.
She revealed that the police received a distress call from a resident, Shandam Michael, alerting them to the shocking occurrence.
“A distress call from Shandam Michael reported a shocking event involving Ismail Usman, a local herbalist known for his unconventional methods.
In a misguided attempt to test the effectiveness of a self-made ‘bulletproof’ charm, Usman shot himself in the stomach with a shotgun,” Adeh said.
Officers from the Byazhin Division responded promptly and transported the critically injured Usman to Kubwa General Hospital for emergency medical care.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that due to the severity of his injuries, he was later transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, where medical professionals are working to save his life.
Following the incident, the police said they have conducted a search of Usman’s residence, recovering the homemade firearm and various charms used in his ill-fated experiment.
Adeh disclosed that the herbalist would face charges for unlawful possession of firearms and attempted suicide under Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.
“Investigations are ongoing, and Usman is expected to face charges for unlawful possession of firearms and attempted suicide.
The Commissioner of Police FCT, Olatunji Disu, has condemned the incident, noting the dangers associated with illegal firearms,” she added.
The police have urged residents to report suspicious activities and avoid dangerous practices involving unlicensed weapons or unverified traditional methods.
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