A mob in Benue State allegedly beat an elderly man, Ordue Ikye, believed to be over 80 years old, to death on Sunday, September 7, 2026, after accusing him of causing a younger relative's death through witchcraft. The incident occurred in Tse-Ikye, Gbemacha Council Ward, Mbavior, Mbasar, in Gwer East local government area, according to a petition filed by the Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) with the Benue State Commissioner of Police.
Chain of Events Leading to the Attack
The attack followed the death of Aker Aleva, a man in his 30s, who collapsed and died after complaining of a headache. According to AfAW, Aleva had gone out to watch football and began feeling unwell on his way home. He was rushed to a hospital in Ikpayongo but died shortly after arrival.
Following Aleva's death, community members allegedly turned on Ikye, who was said to be his relative, blaming him for the death through witchcraft. The petition, signed by AfAW Director Dr Leo Igwe, detailed the sequence of events based on an account from a confidential source identified as Ikye's son.
How the Mob Attack Unfolded
Ikye's son reportedly returned home on Sunday evening after hearing commotion and found a group of people surrounding his father. The group had allegedly lit fires on both sides of Ikye and confronted him over Aleva's death. Ikye denied any knowledge of or involvement in what happened to Aleva.
While some in the crowd reportedly disagreed over what action to take, others picked up logs and began beating the elderly man. He later died from the injuries sustained during the attack. An ambulance was subsequently called, and Ikye's body was transported to Ikpayongo, where it was deposited at a mortuary.
AfAW Names Suspects and Demands Police Action
The organisation named five individuals allegedly involved in the attack, including the youth president of the community, based on information from the confidential witness. AfAW also alleged that a community meeting held after Ikye's death made no mention of his killing. When the deceased's son attempted to record part of the meeting, his phone was allegedly seized and its photos and videos deleted.
AfAW urged the police to investigate the killing, protect Ikye's family and the witness from intimidation, preserve all available evidence, and prosecute anyone found responsible. The organisation stressed that it was troubled by the pattern of unexplained illness or death being used as grounds to accuse individuals of witchcraft and subject them to mob violence. It called on the Benue State police command to take concrete steps to prevent further witchcraft-related attacks in the community.
Broader Pattern of Witchcraft-Related Violence
In a related development, Legit.ng reported that a woman was beaten to death by community members after being accused of witchcraft in Adamawa State, causing public outrage. The state police told Legit.ng that 23 gender-based violence cases were recorded in 2025, including adult rapes and defilement of minors. A gender-based violence advocate has called for zero tolerance and urged communities to speak out against discrimination and abuse.
