Angry youths lynch grandmother in Delta over alleged witchcraft

A 65-year-old grandmother, Madam Clara Ndukwe, was at the weekend beaten to a pulp in Ejeme Aniogor, Aniocha South local Government Area of Delta state on suspicion of allegedly engaging in witchcraft and related acts.

It was gathered that two children last Monday died in the community under mysterious circumstances with the granny reportedly linked to the children’s bizarre death.

Mother of the two children, who spoke in Asaba on condition of anonymity, said, “The woman is my husband’s relation. She was once caught in a similar act and she confessed to the evil act. My kids were killed in the witchcraft coven. They complained of fever and I took them to the clinic in the community, only for them to give up few hours later.”

We learnt that the suspect was dragged out of her room where she was having a rest by angry youths, and was given a severe beating. But for the intervention of the police, she would have been lynched to death.

The suspect, Mrs Ndukwe, while speaking said, “I’m almost 70years and they are accusing me of being a witch. I’m not a witch. I know nothing about witchcraft. They almost killed me, but thank God that I escaped, those kids are my brother’s children, why should I kill them?”

Unconfirmed sources said the community has been bedeviled by litany of witchcraft accusations in the last few years.

But a chieftain of the community, Chief Frank Akugba told our correspondent, “We had to stepped into the action of the aggrieved youths. We are investigating the suspect. If she is found guilty, she will be banished from the community. We have subjected the woman to taking oath. And if lied, she will face the wraths of the gods”.

Investigations revealed that youths of the community are passionate about development in their community, and in the recent times “hijacked powers from elders of the community with fierce mobilization to beat and banish any evil perpetrators in the community.”

However, an executive member of the youth forum, Mr Justus Ndah, said, “We will bring to book all evil persons in my community. No hiding place for the wicked, there are enough evidence against the woman, so she cannot escape, but the police are already handling the matter. There is nothing we can do again.”

It was further gathered that the suspect was allegedly flogged by the angry youths who almost set her ablaze if not for the timely intervention of the police.

As at the time of this report, hue and cry over the sudden death of the two children still enveloped the community, as there were war songs by the angry youths who threatened to bring to book all evil persons in the community.