Amnesty International Nigeria has called on Nigerian authorities to investigate the alleged mob killing of an 80-year-old man, Ordue Ikye, following accusations of witchcraft in Benue State.
The rights organisation made the demand in a statement published on its official Facebook page on Sunday.
According to Amnesty, Ikye was allegedly beaten to death by a mob in Tse-Ikye, Gbemacha Council Ward, Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State, after he was accused of causing the death of a younger relative through witchcraft.
The organisation said the accusation followed the illness and subsequent death of a younger relative identified as Aker Aleva, who reportedly died in hospital.
Amnesty said Ikye repeatedly denied the allegation before he was allegedly lynched.
“Nigerian authorities must transparently and impartially investigate the killing of an 80-year-old man Ordue Ikye, who was beaten to death by a mob in Tse-Ikye, Gbemacha Council Ward, Gwer Local Government Area of Benue State.”
The rights group said the elderly man maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal.
“Ikye repeatedly denied the accusation up to the time he was lynched.”
Amnesty described the incident as a “stark reminder” of the need for stronger measures to prevent killings arising from witchcraft accusations and to protect people from what it described as baseless allegations.
The organisation said accusations of witchcraft can emerge within families and communities following tragic events such as illness or death, with older people, particularly those living in poverty or with health conditions or disabilities, often facing increased vulnerability.
Amnesty called on the government to establish a properly funded and sustained national awareness campaign aimed at challenging cultural and social practices that discriminate against older people through witchcraft accusations.
“The government must establish a properly resourced long-term national awareness campaign challenging cultural and social practices that discriminate against older people, through witchcraft accusations.”
The organisation also called for a transparent and impartial investigation into Ikye’s death and accountability for anyone found responsible.
The circumstances surrounding the alleged killing, including whether arrests have been made, were not immediately clear from Amnesty’s statement.
The allegations of witchcraft against Ikye remain unsubstantiated. An accusation of witchcraft is not evidence of wrongdoing, and no person should be subjected to violence or denied due process on the basis of such a claim.
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