Nelson A.Osuala[12 July 2016] 7:35AM
What was their crime? They were accused of being witches. How did they know? Does it not take a 'witch' to know a fellow witch..?Just curious!
Recently, the rate at which some people take laws into their hand in perpetrating mayhem is indeed alarming.
NHB gathered from a reliable source, that two elderly men were lynched by an angry mob in Calabar, Akwa Ikot Effanga of Akpabuyo LGA of Cross Rivers to be precise.
The gruesome murder of these men took place surprisingly on the “Lord's Day” Sunday, 3rd of July.
According to our source,the victims identified as Chief Bassey Effiom Ngwe and Mr Asuquo Effiong Etim were mercilessly beaten and burnt by a mob after a traditional native doctor accused them of being responsible for the deaths of several young people in the village.
One Mr. Leo Igwe(A Facebook user) published the story on social media.
Excerpt from his words affirms:
“The native doctor is currently in police custody but according to my local contact person none of those who killed the alleged witches had been arrested.
There are concerns that the matter may eventually die, that the 'native doctors' could be released any moment from now and nobody would be brought to justice!
However, recent updates on the story, avers that, some hoodlums suspected to be part of the lynch mob attacked and looted the home of one of the alleged witches because the son was assisting the police with the investigation and arrests.
The young man who narrowly escaped is presently living in fear for his life.”
There are concerns that the matter may eventually die if pressure is not brought on the Nigerian state and police authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice!
In a later update of 7th July, Mr Igwe, who according to our source, works at the International Humanist and Ethical Union did call on the Assistant Commissioner of Police to investigate the matter and bring to book those involved in the murder of the men.
He asserts:
“Act Now!. I am using this medium to ask you to contact ACP Bunmi Osoko (TEL NO. +2348033004406) Officer in-charge of the State CIID(Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department), Cross River State police headquarters (Nigeria) and urge him to investigate and bring to justice those who lynched TWO ALLEGED WITCHES, CHIEF BASSEY EFFIOM NGWE and MR ASUQUO EFFIONG ETIM from Akwa Ikot Effanga in Akpabuyo LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria.
The native doctor is currently in police custody but according to my local contact person, none of those who killed the alleged witches had been arrested.”
Buttressing the Urgency of the matter, Mr Igwe further added:
“We need you to take urgent action NOW! …Witch hunting must stop. Witch hunters must be brought to justice”