By Our Reporter
In the quiet village of Kaida Gwagwalada, nestled in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, Wahad Dauda (male), lived a modest life as an iron bender/fabricator/aluminum merchant. His small compound, surrounded by mango trees, had become a haven for his sister, Abibetu Dauda, who arrived a year ago, pregnant and abandoned by the husband.
On a humid evening in March 2025, Abibetu, gave birth to a set of twins (two boys) in a local hospital.
The Daudas welcomed the newborns with joy, but whispers soon spread through like wildfire: twins were a curse, a harbinger of misfortune, according to the ancient traditions.
One of the elders of the village, Alhaji Mustapha, declared that the twins’ birth threatened the community harmony. “Twins bring calamity”, he proclaimed at a town meeting, his voice heavy with conviction. “Wahab must send them away or the spirits will punish them all.”
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Wahad, skeptical of such superstitions refused to back out. He argued that modern science and law protected his sister and her children.
Tensions escalated when Musa, a local trader and devout follower of Alhaji Mustapha, confronted Wahab at the market. ‘You have brought a curse upon us! “Musa shouted, his eyes blazing. ” If you don’t send those twins away, I will make sure you regret it.”
Wahad’s heart raced, but he stood firm, reporting the threat to the community police station the next day.
The police, citing section 264, subsection 1 of the Nigerian criminal code, noted that uttering threats to kill is a serious offense, punishable by up to five years in prison. They promised to investigate, but Wahab sensed their unwillingness as many officers shared the village’s traditional beliefs.
As days passed, the threats intensified. Anonymous notes appeared at Wahab’s doorstep with WARNING signs, ‘Leave with the twins or face death’.
Abibetu, terrified, begged her brother Wahab to flee but he refused to abandon his home. “His claim is no one can harm us for welcoming his family members,” he told her citing Nigerians constitutional protection of life and dignity.
Yet, Wahab’s resolve was tested when Musa and a group of villagers surrounded his compound one night, chanting and wielding sticks. “We will burn this place if you stay,” Musa yelled.
Desperate, Wahab contacted a legal aid organisation in Abuja, who then sent a lawyer, Daniel Oriarewoh, to assist and salvage the situation.
Daniel argued that threats violated Dauda’s fundamental rights and filed a petition with the Inspector General of police, referencing cases where traditional beliefs led to illegal threats. He also, organised a community dialogue, inviting a historian who explained that twins killing practices has been abolished in Nigeria with the intervention of a seasoned reformers like Mary Slessor.
In court, Musa was charged with making threats to murder/kill innocent and harmless children.
The Judge citing the need to uphold justice over superstition, sentenced him to two years in prison. Wahad and Abibetu remained in Kaida, raising the twins under the mango trees.
Their home has become a symbol of resilience and uncertainty. The village though divided, began to shift as the truth of human rights pierced the shadows of tradition.
