Benue: 80-yr-old man beaten to death over witchcraft allegation

An 80-year-old man, Ordue Ikye, was allegedly beaten to death by a mob in Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State after being accused of using witchcraft to cause the death of his younger relative, Aker Aleva. Ikye was reportedly attacked at around 7pm last Sunday at Tse-Ikye, Gbemacha Council Ward, Mbavior, Mbasar, following Aleva's untimely demise.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) petitioned the Benue State Commissioner of Police over the incident, alleging that Aleva had complained of a headache while returning home from watching football before collapsing. According to the petition, Aleva was taken to a hospital in Ikpayongo but later died. Ikye, who was Aleva's relative, was allegedly accused of causing the death through witchcraft by members of the community.

A confidential source, identified as Aleva's son, reported that he found a group of persons confronting his father and that they allegedly made fires on both sides of Ikye before questioning him about Aleva's death. The petition alleges that Ikye denied knowing what happened to Aleva or being responsible for his death. Five persons, including the youth president of the community, are identified as allegedly involved in the attack.

AfAW stresses that the allegations and identities in the petition should be independently investigated by the police. The organization urges the police to investigate the alleged killing, protect the deceased's family and witnesses from intimidation, and prosecute anyone found culpable.