Two people are in police net after youths in the Ikyve community, Benue State, reportedly accused two men of witchcraft and buried them alive.
Trouble started after a thunder strike killed a young man identified as Henry Ihwakaa, his wife and a child.
The youths in the area alleged that it was the handiwork of the victim’s father, the elderly Ihwakaa, whom they accused of always using water channels to invoke witchcraft on people of the community.
Exasperated by the incident, youths from the area mobilised and apprehended the father of the alleged thunder victim, Ihwakaa and another elderly man believed to be his collaborator.
The youths reportedly dug a shallow grave and buried them alive.The state police command, however, said one person was buried alive.
An elder in the community, Engr. Baba Agan said thunderstorms was common in that vicinity and they usually struck economic trees and could have been responsible for the deaths of the husband, wife and their baby.
Agan, said it was unfortunate that before the police arrived at the scene to rescue the victim from the grave, he had died and it was his corpse that was finally exhumed.
“I’m not happy. People shouldn’t take laws into their hands. If this matter is not properly handled, it can generate further crises in the family and community. As an elder, I will join the other leaders of the community to ensure this issue is settled amicably”, Agan posited.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Benue State Command, SP Catherine Anene said two people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
