A middle-aged man, identified as Emmanuel Akposi, has been declared wanted after allegedly dousing his elderly mother, Mrs Atim Akposi, also known as Atim Eyo, with fuel and setting her ablaze at Ojo community in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The victim suffered severe burns in the incident on Friday, August 14, and was rushed to a community health centre in Ojo before being transferred to Akamkpa General Hospital and later to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where she died in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19.
According to the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW), family sources said Emmanuel had repeatedly called his mother a witch, claiming he had been told so by pastors at different churches, and had previously confronted her in public before being cautioned by an elder brother.
On the day of the attack, Emmanuel reportedly entered his mother’s room and attempted to strangle her. When she resisted and tried to escape, he allegedly knocked her to the ground, poured fuel on her, and set her ablaze, before fleeing the community.
The matter has been reported to the Uyanga Divisional Police Station in Akamkpa, which has commenced investigation and launched a manhunt for the suspect.
AfAW’s Director, Leo Igwe, condemned the attack, describing Mrs Akposi’s death as underscoring “the vicious impact of witchcraft suspicion and accusation on innocent lives,” and called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect, while urging churches to stop promoting narratives that fuel witch-hunting.
