An over 80-year-old man, Ordue Ikye, has allegedly been beaten to death by a mob after he was accused of witchcraft in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State.
Ikye was reportedly attacked around 7pm last Sunday at Tse-Ikye, Gbemacha Council Ward, Mbavior, Mbasar, following the death of a younger relative, Aker Aleva, who was in his 30s.
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches, which petitioned the Benue State Commissioner of Police over the incident, said Aleva had gone out to watch football and complained of a headache while returning home before collapsing.
In the petition signed by its Director, Dr Leo Igwe, the organisation said Aleva was taken to a hospital in Ikpayongo but later died. Following his death, Ikye, who was reportedly a relative of the deceased, was allegedly accused by some community members of causing his death through witchcraft.
The organisation said a confidential source, identified as Aleva’s son, reported that he returned home on Sunday evening after hearing people shouting and found a group of people confronting his father.
According to the petition, the mob allegedly lit fires on both sides of Ikye and questioned him about Aleva’s death.
The elderly man reportedly denied knowing what happened to Aleva and rejected the allegation that he was responsible for his death.
AfAW alleged that while some members of the group disagreed over what should be done to Ikye, others picked up logs and began beating him. He was reportedly fatally injured during the attack.
The organisation identified five people who were allegedly involved in the incident, including the community’s youth president, based on information provided by its confidential witness. It, however, stressed that the allegations and identities contained in the petition should be independently investigated by the police.
AfAW further alleged that following Ikye’s death, an ambulance was called and his body was taken to Ikpayongo, where it was deposited in a mortuary.
The organisation also claimed that a subsequent community meeting did not address Ikye’s death, adding that when the deceased’s son attempted to record part of the proceedings, his phone was allegedly seized and photographs and videos deleted.
AfAW urged the police to investigate the alleged killing, preserve available evidence, protect the deceased’s family and witnesses from intimidation, and prosecute anyone found culpable.
The organisation warned against using unexplained illness or death as grounds for witchcraft accusations, saying such allegations could expose innocent people to violence.
It called on the police to take preventive measures against further witchcraft-related attacks in the community.