An elderly man, identified as Ordue Ikye, has allegedly been beaten to death by a mob in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State after he was accused of using witchcraft to cause the death of a younger relative.
Ikye, said to be above 80 years old, was reportedly confronted by a group of people who accused him of being responsible for the death of Aker Aleva, a man in his 30s. The mob allegedly subjected the elderly man to a violent assault after he denied the allegation.
The incident reportedly occurred around 7pm last Sunday at Tse-Ikye, Gbemacha Council Ward, Mbavior, Mbasar, following Aleva’s death. The development has now prompted the Advocacy for Alleged Witches to petition the Benue State Commissioner of Police, seeking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ikye’s death.
According to the organisation, Aleva had gone out to watch a football match and complained of a headache while returning home. He reportedly collapsed, was taken to a hospital in Ikpayongo and subsequently died.
The group alleged that following Aleva’s death, suspicion fell on Ikye, who was said to be his relative. A confidential witness reportedly told AfAW that the deceased’s son returned home after hearing people shouting and found several individuals confronting his father.
The organisation’s Director, Dr Leo Igwe, said in the petition that the group allegedly lit fires on both sides of Ikye while questioning him about Aleva’s death. The elderly man reportedly denied having any knowledge of what happened to Aleva or being responsible for his death.
AfAW alleged that while some people at the scene disagreed over what should be done to Ikye, others picked up pieces of wood and attacked him. He reportedly sustained fatal injuries and later died from the assault.
The organisation identified five people who were allegedly involved in the incident, including the community’s youth president, but stressed that the claims were based on information from a confidential source and should be independently verified by the police.
AfAW also alleged that Ikye’s body was later taken by ambulance to Ikpayongo and deposited in a mortuary. It called on the police to preserve evidence, protect witnesses and the deceased’s family from intimidation, and prosecute anyone found responsible.
The organisation warned against using unexplained illnesses or deaths as grounds for witchcraft accusations, urging the authorities to take steps to prevent further violence linked to such allegations in the community.
Benue must be a breeding ground for the most useless men on earth.
ReplyDeleteYou can't even do anything to the Fulanis killing your people and yet here you are killing your father ls.