Couple Set their 11-Year-Old Son Ablaze After Accusing Him Of Witchcraft In Akwa Ibom

oge okonkwo

August 19, 2014 2:13 PM

His younger brother who witnessed the incident immediately raised an alarm when he saw his sibling on fire

An 11-year-old boy, Nmeyene Christopher Eyo, narrowly escaped death in the hands of his parents after he was accused of being a wizard.

The suspect, Christopher Amos Essie was said to have conspired with his wife, Amos Johnson, a prophetess, to kill the little boy by setting him ablaze in order to rid him from witchcraft.

Prophetess Johnson of Light of God’s Grace Church, Okon Eket, has been arrested with the suspect after the victim, a pupil of Qua Ibo Church Primary School, Ikot Ekpri Atan Akpan, was rescued.

Narrating his ordeal, Eyo said that the problem started when he woke up one morning and told his maternal grandmother how he saw himself in the midst of people who gave him biscuits to eat, and she alerted his father who immediately came to the conclusion that the boy was a member of the witchcraft world and should therefore be dealt with before he wreaks havoc on the entire family.

He said in the quest to exorcise him of witchcraft, his parents meted out severe punishments and the final straw was when his mother, the prophetess took him to the church, doused him with kerosene and set him alight.

His younger brother who witnessed the incident immediately raised an alarm when he saw Eyo burning, alerting people who quickly notified the police.

Commenting in the horrible act, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Glory Emmanuel Edet warned parents to desist from stigmatizing their children as witches and wizards.

According to her, children are precious gift from God, adding that they should be cared for, shown love and affection and guided until adulthood.

oge okonkwo