Some youths in Ikyve community, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State, have buried an elderly man they accused of witchcraft.
The incident took place at the weekend in Ikyve community of Diiv-Ikyurave, a rural area which borders Cross River State.
According to a local, trouble started for the elderly victim simply identified as Ihwakaa when lightning killed his son, Henry, alongside his wife and their infant.
The local who craves for anonymity said some youths in the area accused Ihwakaa of being the brain behind the lightning which killed members of his household.
The youths alleged that the old man was fond of using water channels to invoke witchcraft on people of the community.
“So, they accosted him and buried him in a shallow grave alive,” the resident said.
Another local in the community, Engr. Baba Agan, revealed that he learnt on Sunday that three persons were killed by thunder storm in his community, adding that he further learnt that an elderly man was accused of masterminding the deaths of the three people.
Agan said the development led to a mob burying him alive.
He said thunder storm was a common phenomenal in that vicinity and could have been responsible for the death of the husband, wife and their two-month-old baby.
Agan, who described the incident as unfortunate, said the youths had buried the old man alive before the police arrived 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 the law into their own hands. If this matter is not properly handled, it can generate further crisis in the family and community. As an elder, I will join other leadership of the community to ensure this issue is settled amicably,” Agan said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue State Command, SP Catherine Anene, said two suspects had been arrested.
“An elderly man was buried alive because it was being alleged that a young man, his wife and two months old child died from lightning. It was alleged that it was the man doing witchcraft that brought the lightning. They went and buried him alive and he died. Police are investigating; we have arrested two people already,” Anene said.
