A herbalist, Ismail Usman, found himself in a life-or-death situation after a bold experiment with a self-made ‘bulletproof’ charm went disastrously wrong.

The dramatic incident happened on November 23 in Kuchibuyi village, Abuja, where Usman, confident in the potency of his charm, picked up a locally crafted gun and fired at his own stomach.

What was meant to showcase his mystical prowess turned into a nightmare, as the charm failed to work, leaving him with a grievous, life-threatening injury

Confirming the incident on Saturday, the FCT police command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the police received a distress call from a resident on the incident.

She said officers from the Byazhin Division arrived at the scene and rushed Usman to Kubwa General Hospital.

Adeh added that due to the severity of his injuries, he was later transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, where doctors are working tirelessly to save his life.

She said, “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.

“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. He was quickly transported to Kubwa General Hospital for emergency treatment and later transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for further care.

“In the aftermath, police conducted a thorough search of Usman’s home, recovering the homemade gun and an array of charms used in his reckless experiment. ”

Adeh said Usman would face charges for unlawful possession of firearms and attempted suicide, which violates Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.

She said, “Investigations are ongoing, and Usman is expected to face charges for unlawful possession of firearms and attempted suicide under Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.

“Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Olatunji Disu, condemned the incident, highlighting the dangers associated with illegal firearms.”

Punch