AfAW petitions Benue police over alleged killing of 80-year-old man over witchcraft accusation

By Jame Ike

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches, AfAW, has petitioned the Benue State Police Command over the alleged killing of an elderly man, Ordue Ikye, who was reportedly beaten to death after being accused of causing the death of a younger relative through witchcraft.

In the petition signed by its Director, Dr Leo Igwe, and addressed to the Commissioner of Police, AfAW said the incident occurred at about 7pm on Sunday in Gbemacha Council Ward, Mbavior, Mbasar, Tse-Ikye, Gwer Local Government Area of the state.

The organisation urged the police to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation, identify those responsible and prosecute anyone found culpable.

According to information obtained from a confidential source identified as the deceased's son, Ikye, who was above 80 years, was accused of causing the death of Aker Aleva, a man in his 30s.

AfAW said Aleva had reportedly gone out to watch football and, while returning home, complained of a headache before collapsing. He was taken to a hospital in Ikpayongo, where he later died.

The petition said following Aleva's death, Ikye was allegedly accused by members of the community of causing the death through witchcraft.

AfAW explained that the two men were relatives, noting that Aleva's grandfather reportedly shared the same father with Ikye's father.

Recounting the alleged incident, the confidential witness said he was returning home when he heard people shouting and went towards the direction of the noise, only to find a group of people confronting his father.

He alleged that the Youth President, Atim Iwen, also known as Daddy, and Utim Akpa, known by the community title, Tor kpande, were among those leading the proceedings.

According to him, a large fire was made on both sides of Ikye, leaving him standing between the fires while he was asked to explain Aleva's death.

The elderly man reportedly denied responsibility, saying he did not know what had happened or why Aleva died.

The witness further alleged that Iwen later called some elderly persons aside and asked what should be done because Ikye was denying responsibility.

It was at that point, the petition alleged, that some persons suggested that Ikye should be killed.

AfAW quoted one of those identified as Velumun Taasar as saying that "whether Ordue Ikye was responsible for the death or not, he should be killed" and that "an example should be made of him."

The organisation said although some people reportedly opposed the suggestion, members of the mob allegedly picked up logs and began beating Ikye.

The witness reportedly said he was too frightened to intervene for fear of being attacked or killed.

He allegedly watched as his father was "beaten mercilessly" and later discovered that he was dead after the beating stopped.

AfAW said the witness identified Atume Tarsaar, Vandelum Nyitamen, Mimido Aleva, said to be the younger sister of Aker Aleva, and Sughshater Asom, among others, as alleged participants in the attack.

The organisation, however, stressed that the allegations and identifications should be independently investigated by the police to establish the facts.

Following the alleged killing, AfAW said Iwen and others called an ambulance and Ikye's body was taken to Ikpayongo, where it was deposited in a mortuary.

The organisation also alleged that the local traditional authority, the Ortar, Zaki Agiya Jubu, subsequently convened a community meeting.

According to the witness, however, the meeting focused on Aleva's death, which had triggered the accusation against Ikye, while no mention was reportedly made of the elderly man's death.

He further alleged that when he attempted to record part of the meeting with his phone, individuals acting on the direction of the Ortar seized the device, compelled him to provide his password and deleted photographs and video recordings.

AfAW said the deceased's family had not formally reported the alleged killing to the police because of financial difficulties and fear of retaliation.

The organisation expressed concern over the safety of the deceased's son, who it said witnessed the alleged killing and reported the seizure and deletion of evidence from his phone.

It therefore urged the police to protect the witness and other vulnerable members of the family from intimidation, threats or retaliation.

AfAW asked the police to invite and question those identified as having participated in the alleged beating and investigate the roles of Iwen, Akpa and Taasar, among others.

It also called for an investigation into the alleged seizure of the witness's phone and deletion of photographs and videos, while urging the preservation of medical and mortuary records, witness accounts and other evidence relevant to the case.

The organisation warned against treating witchcraft accusations as evidence of responsibility for unexplained deaths.

"An unexplained illness or death cannot constitute evidence that another person caused the death through supernatural means," AfAW said, warning that such accusations could lead to "serious human rights violations, including violence, torture and unlawful killing."

It urged the police to treat the matter with urgency, establish the circumstances surrounding Ikye's death, protect vulnerable witnesses and ensure that anyone found responsible faces the law.