80-year-old man beaten to death over witchcraft allegation in Benue

An 80-year-old man, Ordue Ikye, died after being allegedly attacked by a mob for accusing him of using witchcraft to cause the death of his 30-year-old relative, Aker Aleva, in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State. The incident occurred around 7pm last Sunday at Tse-Ikye, Gbemacha Council Ward, Mbavior, Mbasar. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches, AfAW, reported the case in a petition to the Benue State Commissioner of Police, seeking an investigation.

According to the petition, Aleva was found collapsed after returning from watching a football match and later died in a hospital. People accused Ikye of causing Aleva's death through witchcraft. The petition stated that Ikye's son, a confidential source, returned home and found a group of people confronting his father, accusing him of Aleva's death.

Ikye denied the accusation, and the petition alleged that some individuals at the scene allegedly attacked him with pieces of wood, causing fatal injuries. AfAW claimed five people, including the community's youth president, were involved in the attack. The group demanded a thorough police investigation and justice for Ikye's family and witnesses.