Witchcraft: Human right’s groups, Monarch kick against attacks, banishment of 15 persons in Ebonyi 

By, Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki 

The National human rights commission, Advocacy for alleged witches and the traditional ruler of Umuogodo akpu-ngbo community have kicked against the spate of attacks and banishment of persons presumed to be involved in witchcraft in Ebele village and other parts of Ebonyi State by irked youths and elders.

The coordinator of the National human rights commission, NHRC, Ebonyi State chapter, Christopher Okorie, leader of the advocacy group, Leo Igwe and the traditional ruler, HRH, Eze Godwin made this known during in an enlarged meeting with the victims of witchcraft and other human rights abuses/ violation, held at its office Nnorom street Abakaliki.

In their separate reactions, Okorie said: “This issue of unlawful accusations of witchcraft and base on this, meting out human rights violation on the citizens of Ebonyi State, is seriously against the law, and a gross violation of human rights.

“It’s also criminal in nature, now that these matters are all coming out here and there, they don’t have equal treatment, there are some cases where we go the community to sensitize them on the ignorance that led them to do that.

“But in any case, the matter is already criminal like where it involves the loss of lives and forced disappearance, is a criminal case, and it is against international laws.

“In such a case, we have to alert the police and other security outfits and follow it up until justice is served. We will prosecute in court any of the matters that are credible and evidence are available”  He said.

Responding, Igwe said: “we currently have ten to fifteen cases of witchcraft attacks and banishment. In Afikpo local government, we have about eight cases of witchcraft attacks. We have many others in the Ngbo areas. These fifteen are people we are able to reach for now.

“A lot of other people are affected but we are unable to reach them, but on their behalf, we are using the cases at hand to tackle it. We advocate to protect those whose rights have been abused as a result of the allegation of witchcraft” he stated.

On his part, the traditional ruler of Umuogodo akpu-ngbo community, HRH, Eze Godwin condemned in totality the serial attacks and banishment of some people in Ebele village by irked youths and elders of the area, which he described as unwanted and caused by illiteracy.

“Some of the bad boys and men who don’t want to behave like human beings were banishing people in Ebele village. They accused people of witchcraft, then I called them to my palace, and after investigation, I found out that what they are alleging were not true” he stated.

Some of the victims who spoke to newsmen at the venue, called for the immediate intervention of the governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, stressing that their houses and other valuable properties were completely destroyed by the irked youths and elders of Ebele village, for a case they don’t have hand in.

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One of the victims, Thomas Eze who hails from Ebele village in Umuogodo akpu-ngbo community, narrates that he was brutally attacked and banished from the village by the irked youths and elders over alleged witchcraft.

“A neighbour accused me of witchcraft and I told him that I didn’t do that, I insisted that we must go to the traditional ruler palace for us to take oath, and as such, the villagers were angered that I wanted to go to Igwe ‘s palace.

“The villagers insisted that I must go away from the village, but I told them that I won’t go because I have no hands on what they are saying. They tied my hands and beat me up and finally chased me out of the village.

Another victim, Onwe Nwamaka, a mother of four children whose husband, was attacked and banished in Ebele village by the irked youths and elders narrated that “since I entered into my husband place, there have been one problem or the other, and anything that happens, they will always call my husband.

“My husband’s brother was sick and in January this year, he died. And the kinsmen accused my husband of killing him with charms. He told them that he didn’t do that. And on February 21st, they attacked and banished him from the village.

“They chased me and my children out of our house, they pulled it down. They, as well, destroyed and looted our farm inputs. I have no father and mother to run to, and it was the traditional ruler that helped and saved our lives” 

The victims of witchcraft attacks and banishment; Eze and Mrs Onwe, however called on the state government and prominent stakeholders in Ohaukwu LGA to come for their rescue.