By Daniel Aondoaseer Zendesha

An elderly man identified as Ordue Ikye, reportedly aged above 80, has allegedly been beaten to death in Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State following an accusation that he was responsible for the death of a younger relative through witchcraft.

The allegation was raised by the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW), which has petitioned the Benue State Police Command, calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ikye’s death and the prosecution of anyone found culpable.

According to a confidential witness cited by AfAW, the incident followed the death of Aker Aleva, a younger relative who reportedly became ill, collapsed and was later taken to hospital, where he died.

The organisation said community members subsequently confronted Ikye over the death and accused him of causing it through witchcraft.
Ikye reportedly denied the allegation before he was allegedly attacked.

Based on the information provided by AfAW, the elderly man’s death is being linked to an alleged assault arising from a witchcraft accusation.

However, the circumstances surrounding the death, including the identities of those allegedly involved in the attack and the precise cause of Ikye’s death, remain matters for investigation.

AfAW has urged the police to establish what happened, preserve relevant evidence and ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable under the law.

AfAW also raised concerns about an alleged attempt to interfere with evidence.

The organisation claimed that during a subsequent community meeting, a witness’s mobile phone was seized and recordings on the device were deleted.

The allegation has not been independently established by Benue Info-pedia, and it remains unclear who allegedly seized the phone or deleted the recordings.

AfAW has called for the protection of the witness and preservation of medical, digital and other evidence that could assist investigators.

The case highlights the potentially deadly consequences of accusations of witchcraft, particularly when illness or unexplained deaths are attributed to individuals without verifiable evidence.

An unexplained illness or death does not, by itself, establish that another person caused it through witchcraft.
Where accusations lead to violence, the matter becomes one of public safety and criminal accountability, regardless of the beliefs surrounding the accusation.

The Benue State Police Command would need to establish whether a criminal investigation has commenced and determine the circumstances surrounding Ikye’s reported death.
Benue Info-pedia could not independently verify the allegations contained in AfAW’s account at the time of publication.

The identities of suspects, the medical cause of Ikye’s death, and the status of any police investigation remain important questions requiring clarification.

Any person accused in connection with the alleged killing should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due legal process.