Man arrested over alleged murder of stepdaughter accused of witchcraft

The police in Cross River State have arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly beating his six-year-old stepdaughter to death after accusing the child of witchcraft

In a statement on Friday, the spokesperson for the police in the state, Eitokpah Sunday, said the suspect, Saviour Adim, allegedly assaulted the child, Goodness Okon, after accusing her of being a witch.

The incident was reported to the command at about 8:30 a.m. on Friday by the child’s mother, Itoro Udofia, Mr Eitokpah, an assistant superintendent of police, said.

The suspect is currently in police custody, while the child’s remains have been deposited at a mortuary for autopsy.

The case has also been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Calabar for further investigation.

Police urge public to protect children

The police urged members of the public to protect children and promptly report suspected cases of abuse.

It also cautioned against spreading unverified information or taking the law into their own hands.

The police statement did not disclose how the alleged assault occurred or whether the suspect had made any statement to investigators.

Witchcraft accusations and violence

The latest incident comes amid other reported cases of violence linked to witchcraft accusations in Cross River.

In June, PREMIUM TIMES reported the brutal assault of Grace Ekoi, a woman accused of witchcraft during a Christian crusade in Onyadama, Obubra Local Government Area. Video evidence reviewed by the newspaper showed several people beating her with sticks after she was allegedly labelled a witch. The police had said an investigation was underway, but PREMIUM TIMES reported weeks later that no arrests had been made.

The report also quoted a human rights advocate, James Ibor, as saying witchcraft-related attacks in the state reflected a wider problem driven by poverty, weak institutions and what he described as religious profiteering.

READ ALSO: How mob brutally assaulted woman accused of witchcraft at church crusade

Earlier in August, another alleged witchcraft-related attack was reported in Akamkpa Local Government Area, where Emmanuel Akposi was accused of setting his mother, Atim Akposi, ablaze after allegedly accusing her of being responsible for his child’s death. The woman later died in hospital, while the suspect was declared wanted, Leadership Newspaper reported.

The latest arrest adds to growing concerns over violence against people accused of witchcraft in the state, particularly vulnerable family members and children.