Alleged witchcraft: Mob kills two elderly men in Benue

Mob in the Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, on Wednesday, killed two elderly men that were accused of witchcraft.

The men, who were identified as Kwaghange Ugbu and Atuur Shaaja, were killed on September 28, 2022, after villagers alleged that they killing a 25-year-old man.

It was learnt that the killing of the two elderly men is coming less than two months after some youths in August 2022 attacked an alleged witch in Shangev Tiev, in Konshisha LGA.

Sources said David Terseer Nongobo, 25, a native of Mbaaku Mbasombo Gwer East, who recently completed his secondary education, slumped while working on the farm. He was later confirmed dead in a local hospital.

“In reaction to his death, some members of the community stormed the house of his uncles, Kwaghange Ugbu and Atuur Shaaja. They accused them of killing David Terseer through witchcraft. They beat and cut them with cutlasses and axes. They tied a rope around their neck and dragged them until they died”.  Said the source.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Anne Sewuese Catherine, did not comment on the issue as calls made on her telephone were unanswered. She did not also respond to a text message that was sent to her.

Reacting to the incident, Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AFAW), an NGO that campaigns to defend the human rights and dignity of alleged witches in African countries, has called on the Commissioner of Police and the Benue state government to arrest and prosecute the suspects and ensure that justice is done.

“They should send a strong message that jungle justice will not be tolerated in Benue and that those who engage in trial by ordeal and extrajudicial killings of alleged witches will answer for their crimes,” said Dr Leo Igwe, the National Coordinator of the group.

The group also called on the National Human Rights Commission, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, and the social welfare department to liaise and support the families of victims.

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