A 35-year-old housewife in Bauchi State, Hauwau Haruna, has reportedly confessed to killing her co-wife, Jamila Adamu, with a pestle, telling police that the deceased had repeatedly appeared in her dreams and tried to kill her and her children.
Hauwau was arrested by the Bauchi State Police Command on Sunday, September 27, 2026, following the death of Jamila, according to reports of her interview at the command headquarters.
In the account attributed to her, Hauwau said she had lived with Jamila for more than 16 years but claimed that disturbing dreams involving her co-wife had been occurring for some time.
She said the alleged final incident happened after Jamila appeared to her in the form of a cat.
Woman Says Co-Wife Appeared as Cat in Dream
According to Hauwau’s account, she was asleep when she saw what she described as her co-wife appearing in the form of a cat and allegedly trying to harm her and her children.
She told police that she woke up and picked up a food flask, which she used to strike at the animal before it allegedly left her room.
Hauwau claimed that as she chased the cat away, it transformed into Jamila, who she said was standing outside her room.
It was at that point, according to her account, that she picked up a pestle that had been left nearby and began striking Jamila.
‘Before You Kill Me, I Will Kill You’
Hauwau reportedly told investigators that she confronted Jamila while hitting her with the pestle, accusing her of repeatedly trying to harm her.
She said she continued striking her co-wife until Jamila fell to the ground.
The precise circumstances surrounding the death, including the findings of the police investigation and any medical examination, were not contained in the account provided.
Hauwau’s explanation about the dreams is therefore being presented as her own account of what she believed was happening and not as an established explanation for the killing.
She Fled With Her Newborn Twins
After the incident, Hauwau said she became confused about what to do and returned to her room.
She then picked up her newborn twins, carrying one on her back and holding the other in her arms, before leaving the house.
According to her account, she began looking for a commercial motorcycle to take her away from the area.
She eventually travelled to her parents’ residence, where she said she intended to leave the twins with her mother before surrendering herself to the police.
Why She Did Not Immediately Surrender
Hauwau said she initially intended to report herself at the estate police station but became afraid that she could be attacked by a mob.
She said she was particularly concerned about the safety of her newborn twins and wanted them to remain with her mother.
According to her account, her mother subsequently persuaded her not to go to the police station and contacted Hauwau’s elder brother instead.
The circumstances surrounding her eventual arrest were not detailed in the material provided.
Husband Allegedly Dismissed Her Concerns
Hauwau was also reportedly asked whether she had previously told her husband about the dreams involving Jamila.
She said she had raised the issue with him but claimed that he dismissed her concerns.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from her husband, identified as Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim, were reportedly unsuccessful.
Police Investigation Underway
The reported arrest places the case in the hands of the Bauchi State Police Command, which will be expected to establish the circumstances surrounding Jamila’s death and determine the appropriate legal steps.
Hauwau’s reported confession is significant to the investigation, but an admission or account given by a suspect does not by itself establish all the facts of a criminal case. Investigators would still need to examine available evidence and establish the circumstances of the death.
The case also highlights how personal beliefs surrounding dreams or perceived threats can become intertwined with real-world conflicts. In this instance, however, the claims about what Hauwau saw or believed she saw remain part of her account to investigators.
The Bureau Journal has continued to report cases involving police investigations and alleged killings across Nigeria. In a recent case, the reported arrest of a suspect linked to the killing of Kogi APC chairman Ishaq Yunusa brought new allegations and alleged confessional statements into the investigation.
Another recent case involved a police investigation into the discovery of a man’s body under Katampe Bridge in Abuja, where authorities were examining the circumstances surrounding his death and the actions of people who allegedly encountered him before the body was found.
The Bureau Journal also reported the death of a Prince Abubakar Audu University student and the arrest of two suspects as authorities pursued the investigation.
Meanwhile, investigations into deaths in security custody have also drawn attention to the importance of establishing facts through forensic and official inquiries. The Bureau Journal reported the Federal Government’s order for a full investigation into deaths of suspected illegal miners in Niger State.
A separate report examined survivor accounts surrounding deaths in NSCDC custody in Niger, including allegations about detention conditions that investigators were expected to examine.
Questions Still Surround the Bauchi Killing
Several questions remain for investigators, including the circumstances immediately preceding the attack, the medical cause of Jamila’s death and whether other evidence supports or contradicts the account given by Hauwau.
The relationship between the two women, who Hauwau said had lived together for more than 16 years, may also form part of the investigation as authorities establish what led to the fatal confrontation.
For now, Hauwau remains a suspect in the reported killing, while her explanation that dreams involving Jamila contributed to the incident remains her account to the police.
The outcome of the police investigation and any subsequent court proceedings will determine the established facts and legal responsibility in the case.
Get breaking news and latest updates directly on WhatsApp
