Amnesty demands investigation Into killing of man over witchcraft allegation in Benue

Amnesty International Nigeria has called on authorities to investigate the killing of an 80-year-old man, Ordue Ikye, who was allegedly beaten to death by a mob over accusations of witchcraft in Benue State.

The rights organisation made the call in a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Sunday.

Amnesty said Ikye was killed in Tse-Ikye, Gbemacha Council Ward, Gwer Local Government Area of the state, after he was accused of causing the death of a younger relative through witchcraft.

“Nigerian authorities must transparently and impartially investigate the killing of an 80-year-old man Ordue Ikye, who was beaten to death by a mob in Tse-Ikye, Gbemacha Council Ward, Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State,” Amnesty said.

According to the organisation, the elderly man was targeted following the illness and subsequent death of a younger relative identified as Aker Aleva, who reportedly died in hospital.

Amnesty said Ikye repeatedly denied the allegation until he was lynched.

“Ikye repeatedly denied the accusation up to the time he was lynched,” the statement said.

The organisation described the incident as a “stark reminder” of the urgent need to prevent further killings arising from witchcraft accusations and protect people from what it described as baseless allegations.

Amnesty said such accusations often begin within families or communities following tragic events, including illness or death.

It added that older men and women living in poverty or with health conditions or disabilities were particularly vulnerable to such accusations.

The rights group urged the government to establish a properly resourced, long-term national awareness campaign to challenge cultural and social practices that discriminate against older people through witchcraft accusations.

“The government must establish a properly resourced long-term national awareness campaign challenging cultural and social practices that discriminate against older people, through witchcraft accusations,” Amnesty said.