Graphic photo: 2 men accused of being witches burnt to death by mob in Cross River State

Two elderly men were burnt to death by an angry mob in Akwa Ikot
Effanga in Akpabuyo LGA of Cross Rivers state on Sunday, July 3.

According

to Leo Igwe, who published the post on Facebook, the men identified as
Chief Bassey Effiom Ngwe and Mr Asuquo Effing Etim were lynched by a mob
after a native doctor accused them of being responsible for
the deaths of several young people in the village. 

“The
native doctor is currently in police custody but according to my local
contact person none of those who killed
the alleged witches had been arrested. There are concerns that the
matter may eventually die, that the ‘native doctors’ could be released
any moment from now and nobody would be brought to justice! UPDATE(1)
Last night, some hoodlums suspected to be part of the lynch mob attacked
and looted the home of one of the alleged witches because the son is
helping the police with the investigation and arrests. The young man is
living in fear for his life.”

In
a later update on July 7, Mr Igwe, who worked at International Humanist
and Ethical Union called on the Assistant Commissioner of Police to
investigate the matter and arrest those involved in the murder of the
men.

“ACT NOW. I am using this medium to ask you to contact ACP Bunmi
Osoko (TEL NO. +2348033004406) Officer in-charge State Criminal
Intelligence and Investigation Department, Cross River State police
headquarters (Nigeria) and urge him to investigate and bring to justice
those who lynched TWO ALLEGED WITCHES, CHIEF BASSEY EFFIOM NGWE and MR
ASUQUO EFFIONG ETIM from Akwa Ikot Effanga in Akpabuyo LGA, Cross River
State, Nigeria.

(Graphic: See attached the blazing remains of Chief Bassey Effiom Ngwe)

The alleged witches were killed by a lynch mob ON SUNDAY JULY 3 2016
after a ‘native doctor’ declared that they were responsible for several
deaths of young people in the village. The native doctor is currently in
police custody but according to my local contact person, none of those
who killed the alleged witches had been arrested. There are concerns
that the matter may eventually die if pressure is not brought on the
Nigerian state and police authorities to bring the perpetrators to
justice! In addition, the lynch mob had attacked and looted the house of
CHIEF BASSEY EFFIOM NGWE after the son reported the case to the police.
The son has fled the community and is currently in hiding.