A herbalist, Ismail Usman, is battling for his life after sustaining severe injuries while testing a self-made ‘bulletproof’ charm in Kuchibuyi village, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The incident, which occurred on November 23, saw Usman shoot himself in the stomach with a locally fabricated gun after applying the charm, which he believed would protect him from bullets. Unfortunately, the charm failed, leaving him critically injured.
The FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday. She revealed that officers from the Byazhin Division responded to a distress call from a resident and promptly rushed Usman to Kubwa General Hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was later transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for advanced medical care.
“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 stated.
She added, “Unfortunately, the charm failed to protect him, resulting in life-threatening injuries. Officers from the Byazhin Division responded swiftly, arriving at the scene to find Usman in critical condition. Following his evacuation, police conducted a thorough search of his home, recovering homemade guns and various charms.