A civic organisation, the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) has said that it is working with relevant agencies to end the decades-long witchcraft belief in Benue state.
The organisation stated this in a release on Friday by its Director Dr Leo Igwe, in reaction to Wednesday, January 18 incident wherein a 70 year-old man, Mr. Justin Gyado, who hailed from the Mbaivur community of Gwer East LGA in the State was accused by youths in the community of being responsible for the death of one of their fellow youths, 30-year-old man, Terzungwe Agena.
Titled: "Witch Burning, Impunity and Abuses Linked to Witchcraft Beliefs in Benue State," AfAW said Gyado was said to have been tied up and severely burnt by the youths who wanted to get a confession from him.
It noted that while efforts to rescue the poor man proved abortive as even the police were chased away by these youths who threatened mayhem, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) reinforced and went to the community and rescued the old man after being badly hurt by the furnace of the fire.
"He is currently receiving medical attention in one of the hospitals in Makurdi" the AfAW said. "But this barbaric act must not be allowed to go unpunished by relevant authorities in the 21st century.”
AfAW asked the police to arrest and prosecute the suspects who perpetrated the crime including the seer who identified Pa Justine as the person responsible for the death of Terzungwe Agena.
It regretted that mob violence against alleged witches had persisted because perpetrators got away with their crimes.
"Those who attack or lynch accused persons are not arrested investigated or punished" it said, adding that the police was yet to arrest anyone linked to the murder of two elders for witchcraft in October.
It noted that the recent cases happened in the same local government, Gwer East, meaning that there was a pattern of killing alleged witches in the area.
AfAW pledged to continue to work with relevant agencies to educate and sensitize the people and help reorient and reason them out of this primitive superstitions and savagery.