Residents accuse children of witchcraft

Three children, who are siblings, have escaped being lynched by some youths who accused them of witchcraft.

The victims─ Masters Shedrack Esin, 14; Israel Esin, 10; and Miss Miracle Esin, seven ─ became objects of attack after their father, Mr. Etim Esin, was killed by some unidentified persons on Monday morning in Unyenge, Mbo Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

Etim had also been accused of witchcraft by the residents, who insisted that he wanted to use the witchcraft to kill a resident of the area.

The children were, however, rescued by African Children Aid Education and Development Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, which contacted the police.

Project Director, ACAEDF, Mr. David Emmanuel, told our correspondent on Thursday that his organisation received information that the children were about to be attacked because the villagers believed that their father had passed the witchcraft to them.

Emmanuel added that the swift response of the police saved the kids from being lynched in the area.

It was learnt that the late Etim had, on July 2014 through his solicitors, petitioned the police that his life was being threatened by some people on the allegation that he was a wizard trying to use his witchcraft power to kill one of their brothers.

On September 3, 2014, Etim was killed in his home around 4am by unknown assassins when he went out to urinate.

The police in the area, however, said it could not establish if the death was in connection with the witchcraft allegation or not.

A resident of Unyenge, Mr. Victor Asuquo, said it was difficult to ascertain if Etim was actually murdered.

He said, “I think he collapsed and died when he went out to urinate. Many people have died this way and it is irrational to often associate this kind of death to assassination.

“From what I heard, there were no sign that he was shot or attacked, except on his nose.Let the police investigate the matter so that we can know the end of this matter.”

It was learnt that the man, who the villagers accused Etim of trying to kill, died on Tuesday around 10.45pm.

It was further gathered that the police had handed over the three children to ACAEDF for care while investigation into their father murder and attempt on their lives continued.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Etim Dickson, said he was yet to be informed of the incident.

He promised to get back to our correspondent, but had yet to do so as of press time.