MAN WANTED AFTER ALLEGEDLY SETTING MOTHER ABLAZE OVER WITCHCRAFT CLAIMS IN CROSS RIVER. (PHOTOS).

Man Wanted After Allegedly Setting Mother Ablaze Over Witchcraft Claims in Cross River

A middle-aged man identified as Emmanuel Akposi has been declared wanted by police after allegedly dousing his elderly mother with fuel and setting her on fire in Ojo community, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The victim, Mrs Atim Akposi (also known as Atim Eyo), sustained severe burns in the attack on Friday, August 14. She was first taken to a community health centre in Ojo, then transferred to Akamkpa General Hospital and later to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), where she died in the early hours of Monday.

Family sources said the incident was linked to long-standing accusations by the suspect that his mother was a witch and had caused the death of his child.

Speaking to newsmen by telephone on Wednesday, the suspect’s elder brother, Mr Eyo Akposi, said Emmanuel had levelled witchcraft allegations against their mother for several years.

“Before now, he had been accusing our mother for years of being a witch. He told people that some pastors told him that our mother was a witch. He even accused her of being the cause of the death of his child. He confronted her many times, trying to kill her, until the incident of last week,” Eyo said.

According to him, on the day of the attack Emmanuel entered their mother’s room and tried to strangle her. When she resisted, he struck her, causing her to fall. He then poured fuel on her, set her alight and fled.

Neighbours raised the alarm and helped move the victim to hospital after witnessing the assault. Eyo, who does not live in the same community, said he learnt of the attack after receiving a video of the incident and advised relatives to transfer her from Akamkpa General Hospital to UCTH for better care.

The matter has been reported to the Uyanga Divisional Police Station in Akamkpa, which has opened an investigation and launched a manhunt for the suspect.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) has condemned the killing, describing it as a brutal outcome of witchcraft superstition. AfAW Director Leo Igwe, who drew public attention to the case, said: “Mrs Akposi’s death underscores the vicious impact of witchcraft suspicion and accusation on innocent lives.”

The organisation called for the suspect’s immediate arrest and prosecution and urged churches to stop promoting narratives that fuel witch-hunting and violence against people accused of witchcraft.