Woman Suspected to have killed Nephew with Witchcraft set ablaze by angry Family in Boki, C’River

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By Lesley Muosowo Otu | National Anchor

Tragedy occurred involving two neighbouring villages of Kabubok and Nkanya in the Irruan community of Boki local government area in Cross River State, South South Nigeria.

A woman, Madam Nancy Njo Obe from Nkanya village who was accused of killing one Sunday Nkpe from Kakubok with witchcraft by his family, was eventually set ablaze and died hours later on Tuesday, 1 September.

One source said trouble started when the children of a man who is late went to Madam Obe, their aunt to demand for their father’s property under her custody.

According to the source, these children have graduated from tertiary institutions and are waiting for their call-up letters to proceed for the one-year mandatory national youth service. This was because they needed some empowerment while waiting to be called for service or start some small scale business.

The late man’s children had then gone to their aunt and asked that they be allowed access to their father’s cocoa farms but Obe denied them their right even when she knew what the money was meant for..

And there was this cousin of theirs called Sunday Nkpe, also a nephew to the said Obe. He was said to be totally in support of the children’s demand  for what they felt rightly belong to them.

 The source further said that Nkpe’s siding of the children of his late uncle did not go down well with Madam Obe and that led to a face-off which generated into a heated quarrel.

The source further said that after the face-off, Nkpe left for his village of Kabubok, only for him to slump and die the next day at his farm

“Sunday’s sudden death which happened less than 24hrs after he stood his aunt up, brought the wrath of his paternal family upon the mama, as she was accused of having a hand in his death.

“Immediately he slumped and died, the family of the late man hurried to bring mama from her village, a neighbouring community. She was called to answer questions on what she knows concerning the sudden death of her nephew just slump after their misunderstanding. 

“Actually, the family made a fire but it was not to set her ablaze. They only wanted to threaten her to confess. It was at that moment that Sunday Nkpe’s son approached mama and asked what his father’s fault was for her to kill him with witchcraft 

“Irked by her response, the boy who had concealed a can of fuel brought it out and doused it on her. You know how easily fuel can attract fire. That was how she caught fire and was burnt”, he said.

The source also exonerated the villagers,while limiting the blame to Nkpe’s family, adding that it was even some sympathisers who made efforts to rescue her before someone came with the Parish Priest at Kakwagom, two villages away.

Still trying to give reasons why other villagers did not act on time to stop the dastardly act, the source said since it is a family issue,the advisable thing is for outsiders not to be too involved.

Narrating his own side of the story when contacted on phone, the Parish Priest of St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Kakwagom Irruan, Rev. Fr. Clement Imor totally condemned what he described as a barbari act., 

The priest said he was in the parish when a young man came panting, to inform him of what was going on in Kakubok at that very moment.

“I hastened up and got there, only to meet with a gory scene where a woman was being burnt alive.

“With the help of a few sympathisers, we were able to put out the fire and rushed the severely burnt woman to the hospital in Ogoja.

“On reaching TBL hospital in Ogoja, they could not handle the worsening condition of fourth degree burns. So we were referred to the Accident and Emergency unit of Alex Ekweme University Teaching Hospital, in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

“Actually, due to the urgency of the matter, I was not having much money with me to proceed to Abakaliki, so I decided to call out for help.

“Interestingly, many people ready to help with both money and transport but unfortunately, as preparations were still on, she gave up”, the Priest narrated regrettably.

This was Fr. Imor’s SOS message he sent to the WhatsApp group of Kakwagom Irruan indigenes:

“Sunday Nkpe slumped this morning and died. The youths in Kakubok accused this woman of killing him (Sunday Nkpe), I struggled and quench the fire and presently I am in TBL hospital Igoli Ogoja. I am asked to take her to accident and emergency case dept Alex Ekweme Teaching Hospital Abakalike. I don’t have the financial muscle and I am stranded in Igoli with her. Pls I need help.”

It is without doubt that a Priest, who is not from the community, was the one running around and soliciting for help to save the fire victim. Most heartbreaking for him was that she didn’t make it alive.

Imor blamed the vindictive family of late Nkpe for their barbaric act and taking laws into their own hands.

He also did not shy away from hitting it on the villagers for not doing anything to rescue the woman from the irate family members of late Nkpe.

Meanwhile, the remains of Celina Njo Obe have been deposited in the morgue at Monaya hospital, while the police are since involved, although no arrest has been made yet.

The elders of the two communities are also making consultations for a peaceful resolve of the issue.

When the Priest was asked about the reaction of late Madam Obe’s children, he said they have left everything in the hands of the elders and would accept whatever decision they come out with.