Two widows accused of witchcraft beaten to death in Cross River 

Two widows, Mrs Martina Osom and Mrs Rose Akom have reportedly been beaten to death after being accused of being witches by the youths of the Ebbaken community in Boje, Boki local government area of Cross River State.

Vanguard reports that the incident occurred on Saturday, August 2.

An eyewitness and a son-in-law to one of the windows, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said both women, devoted Catholics, were returning from early morning prayers when the youths accused them of initiating a community member into witchcraft.

“They met my mother-in-law within the Church environment as it was her tradition to weed and clean up the Church vicinity every Saturday immediately after the Morning Mass.

The youths accused her of initiating a community member into witchcraft, denying the allegation.

But they beat her severely, ordering her to confess that she is a witch. But her passionate appeal to them that she was innocent fell on deaf ears.” he said

He said the other woman, Mrs Rose Akom, was also dragged into joining his mother-in-law and inflicted with the same torture, ordering her to confess to allegations that she is a witch.

“They were tied with strong ropes and beaten in the rain all through the day until they died”, he added.

He said no arrest had been made, and the culprits were walking free in the community.

“That was what happened in this civilized era in this community,” he lamented.