Two Nigerian Air Force personnel, a riot policeman, and a civilian have been accused of assaulting two septuagenarians over alleged witchcraft in Ediene Abak, Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.
The attackers, Corporals Michael Williams and Akwaowo William serve with the Nigerian Airforce, while Uduak William serves with the Nigeria Police. The other, Ekereobong William, is a civilian. They are brothers.
The quartet was said to have beaten up and stripped their uncle, Mr. Polycarp William, and his wife, Mrs. Anna William. They were also said to have destroyed some economic trees and a Volvo 740 saloon car belonging to Polycarp.
An eyewitness, Mrs. Theresa Ekong, told our correspondent that the four men acted on the suspicion that Polycarp and Anna used witchcraft to hinder their progress.
She stated that the four had driven the septuagenarians from Ediene Abak community after stripping them naked and made them walk on the streets of the community.
She said, “All the four brothers said their uncle and his wife had been responsible for their lack of progress at work and in life through witchcraft.
“They beat them and threatened to shoot anyone who intervened in the matter. They cocked their guns to show their seriousness. It was a terrible Monday.
“There were bruises on Anna’s knees as the men dragged her on the ground. She and her husband were ordered out of their home and community.”
When our correspondent visited the scene, all the residents living within and around the compound where the septuagenarians were assaulted refused to speak for fear of reprisal.
PUNCH Metro observed that some tenants had already begun to leave the house. It was gathered that some of them had received repeated threats by ‘boys’ suspected to be acting on instructions of the suspects.
Speaking to our correspondent on the telephone from Ikot Obio Inyang village, Etinan LGA, where Polycarp and Anna were taking refuge, Anna, who gave her age as 70 years said her sister, husband and a maid were dragged out of their house in the early hours of Monday morning.
She said, “We were stripped naked, ordered to sit on bare floor. They tied my neck with dried plantain leaves and hired a cameraman to take my pictures.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Command, ASP John Patrick confirmed the incident.
He said, “The matter has been transferred to the anti-robbery squad at the State Criminal Investigation Department.”
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