Shocking Trend: Youths in Benue Killing Elders Over Witchcraft Accusations

 The Benue State Police Command is sounding the alarm about a disturbing trend: some youths in the area are killing elderly people over accusations of witchcraft. In a recent statement, Commissioner of Police Hassan Yabaner shared some alarming statistics about crime in the state over the past year.

According to Yabaner, cultism and the killing of older people based on witchcraft accusations have been among the biggest issues the police have had to deal with in 2024. Between April and now, the police have arrested 273 people involved in serious crimes, recovered 20 firearms, and seized 51 rounds of ammunition. Out of those arrested, 250 suspects have already been charged in court.

One of the biggest challenges, according to Yabaner, is tackling cultism, which the police are continuing to fight. Recently, they made arrests in places like North Bank, Daudu, and Otukpo, where they took seven suspected cultists into custody. Some of these include Donald Aguma, Tyoshar Aondoaseer, and Tsena Joseph from Daudu, and Benjamin Andrew Augustine from Otukpo. The police also recovered a locally made pistol from another group of suspects in Wadata, Makurdi.

But what’s really troubling is the way some young people are taking the law into their own hands by accusing and killing elderly people of witchcraft. Yabaner pointed to a tragic incident on Christmas Eve in Egba village, Agatu Local Government Area, where an elderly woman was killed over such an accusation. Police arrested two men, Bako Above (50) and Oyaje Clement (40), in connection to the crime.

Yabaner also took a moment to thank the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, for his ongoing support, as well as the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for his continuous backing of the force in the state.