….As Group Petitions Police, Demands Justice
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
An 80-year-old man identified as Ordue Ikye, has been beaten to death by a mob after he was accused of using witchcraft to cause the death of a younger relative in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.
He was attacked last Sunday at about 7pm at Tse-Ikye, Gbemacha Council Ward, Mbavior, Mbasar, following the death of one Aker Aleva, a man in his late 30s.
A group known as Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW), disclosed this in a petition written to the Benue State Commissioner of Police over the incident.
According to the group, late Aleva had reportedly gone out to watch football and complained of headache while returning home before he slumped.
In the petition, addressed to the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Cletus Nwadiogbu, the Advocacy for Alleged Witches demanded for an indepth investigation into the alleged killing of an 80-year-old man, Ordue Ikye, following accusations of witchcraft.
In the petition signed by AfAW Director, Dr Leo Igwe, and made available to newsmen on Sunday, the group alleged that Ikye was beaten to death after being accused of causing the death of a younger relative, Aker
AfAW condemned the circumstances surrounding Ikye’s death and urged the police to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation to identify those responsible and prosecute anyone found culpable.
According to an account attributed to a son of the deceased, whose identity AfAW withheld for security reasons, Aleva, said to be in his 30s, had gone out to watch a football match before returning home and complaining of a headache.
He reportedly slumped and was taken to a hospital in Ikpayongo, where he later died.
Following Aleva’s death, some members of the community allegedly accused Ikye, who was related to the deceased, of causing through witchcraft.
The witness alleged that when he returned home on Sunday evening, he heard people shouting and discovered a crowd confronting his father.
According to the petition, some members of the gathering allegedly questioned Ikye over Aleva’s death and demanded an explanation from him. Ikye reportedly denied responsibility.
AfAW alleged that the confrontation subsequently turned violent, with members of the crowd attacking the elderly man with sticks.
The witness said he was afraid to intervene because he feared he could also be attacked.
“After the beating stopped, I observed that my father was no longer alive,” the witness was quoted as saying.
The petition named several individuals whom the witness alleged were present or participated in events surrounding the attack. AfAW stressed the need for the police to investigate the allegations and determine individual responsibility.
Ikye’s body was later taken to Ikpayongo and deposited in a mortuary.
The witness further alleged that a subsequent community meeting focused on Aleva’s death rather than the circumstances surrounding his father’s killing.
He also claimed that when he attempted to record the meeting, his phone was forcibly taken from him and photographs and videos were deleted.
AfAW said the deceased’s family had been reluctant to formally pursue the case because of alleged intimidation, fear of retaliation and financial constraints.
The organisation urged the Commissioner of Police to order a comprehensive investigation into Ikye’s death, question individuals allegedly connected with the incident and investigate claims concerning the seizure of the witness’s phone and deletion of recordings.
It also called on the police to preserve relevant evidence, including medical and mortuary records, photographs, videos and witness accounts.
AfAW further requested protection for the deceased’s family and other witnesses against possible intimidation or retaliation.
“Ltnesses and ensure that justice is served,” Igwe said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Police Command had not publicly responded to the allegations contained in the petition.
