Tears, agony in Ebonyi as youths render family homeless over allegations of witchcraft

The family of Mr John Ekpono of Agharoza, Iboko, in the Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, will never forget June 12th.

They had no idea how this terrible day would affect the family’s future.

It was a picture of anguish and sorrow as some local youngsters demolished their homes and farms after receiving a vision from a specific man of God accusing them of being wicked.

ZINGTIE gathered that the problem started when a clergyman revealed that Mr John Ekpono and others were to blame for the community’s backwardness and other misfortunes.

After learning the truth, several of the local youngsters went on the rampage, burning down Ekpono’s homes, farms, and other belongings while claiming he was a wicked man.

The victim’s son, Mr Chijioke Ekpono, who described their horror to ZINGTIE on Thursday, claimed that the masterminds had finished their plans to assault his family members.

He clarified that because the organisers had not obtained formal permission from the local government, the Izzi Local Government Area Chairman had dispatched security personnel to thwart the crusade that the villagers had organised.

Chijioke went on to say that he confronted the crusade’s organisers after learning that his father had been identified as one of the individuals in the community who had engaged in unethical behaviour. This led to the burning of their family properties.

“They have concluded that we were the ones who sent security agencies and accused us of being against the pastor’s coming to call out names of evildoers.

“Agharoza village members rallied, conspired, and destroyed everything that my father labored for in life. They burnt down our houses, destroyed our farmlands, and many other things too numerous to mention. May God come to our rescue,” he said.

Chairman of the Izzi Local Government Area, Barrister Stephen Emenike Nwakpu, confirmed the occurrence and branded it barbaric and uncalled for in a phone discussion with ZINGTIE on Friday night.

According to Nwakpu, at least thirty of the arsonists have been apprehended, charged, and placed under remand at the Abakaliki detention facility; the remaining individuals are still at large.

The local government chairman stated that measures are being taken to guarantee the victims suitable conditions during their resettlement.

DSP Joshua Ukandu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Ebonyi State Command, verified the incident to ZINGTIE on Friday when he was contacted.

He declared that the subject is being looked into, and those who are still at large will be arrested.

In the meantime, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Ebonyi State has investigated the flagrant violations of human rights.

In response to the news, Mr Christopher Okorie, the state coordinator for the NHRC, voiced concern in a Friday interview with ZINGTIE that people would become so uncivilised due to superstition.

Okorie disapproved of the habit of individuals conducting witch hunts against defenceless members of society by relying on rumours and unproven disclosures.

To serve as a warning to others, he stated that the commission was dedicated to making sure that justice was served in this case.

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