Sowore Condemns Burning Of Woman To Death In River Over Alleged Witchcraft While Police Watched, Seeks Culprits’ Arrest
Omoyele Sowore, the candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 presidential election, has condemned the burning of a woman to death in Cross River State, South-South after accusing her of witchcraft.
News men had earlier reported hat Some youths burnt a woman to death in the state after accusing her of witchcraft and causing the death of two people in a motor accident.
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The deceased woman, identified as Madam Martina Okey Itagbor, was subsequently brutally murdered by youths of Old Netim in the Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.
Sowore, who reacted to the killing on his Twitter handle on Thursday, urged security agencies to immediately fish out the youths who carried out the barbaric crime and bring them to justice.
The human rights activist said there should be no place in society for such savagery and cruelty, adding that the police stood by while the helpless poor woman burnt.
He wrote, “I condemn the lynching of this innocent woman in Cross River State and urge security agencies to immediately fish out the “youths” who carried out these heinous crime(s) and make them pay for their crimes.
“Whether it is lynching for blasphemy or witch hunting there should be no place in our society for these types of savagery and cruelty.
“Madam Martina Okey Itagbor was accused of witchcraft and burnt to death by the youths of Old Netim in Akamkpa LGA, Cross River State.”
“This was after a fatal motor accident claimed the lives of two young men. Sadly, the Police stood by while the helpless poor woman burnt. The suspects are still walking free,” he added.
A lawyer, James Ibor, who exposed the barbaric incident on his Facebook page, has been calling for justice for the deceased using #Justice4MartinaItagbor.
A gory video of the incident obtained by the press shows the half-naked woman being burnt to death in the middle of a paved road by some youths who had gathered around.
On his Facebook page on Wednesday, Ibor wrote, “Madam Martina Okey Itagbor was accused of witchcraft and burnt to death by the Youths of Old Netim in Akamkpa LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria.
“This was after a fatal motor accident claimed the lives of two young men. Sadly, the Police stood by while the helpless poor woman burn. The suspects are walking free.
“Witchcraft branding is a crime. The belief in witches and their power to cause harm is backward and primitive. I call on the Police to bring these suspects to Justice. No witches, No Wizards.”
“The video is too gory, heartless and horrible. If I post it here, Facebook will block me,” he added in another post on Thursday.
This is not the first time someone would be killed in the state over allegations of witchcraft.
On August 27, 2022, two widows who were also accused of being witches were lynched in Ebbaken community in the Boki Local Government Area of the state.
The victims were identified as Mrs Martina Osom and Mrs Rose Akon. were on Saturday, August 27, allegedly tortured to death by youths.
The deceased women were identified as devoted Catholics.
