Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A woman in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State has been taken into custody by community members after she allegedly threw her five-year-old son into a river, acting on the instructions of a self-proclaimed “seer” who told her that the child was a python blocking her womb and preventing her from having more children. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has sparked widespread outrage and drawn sharp condemnation from child rights advocates and health professionals.
According to information that accompanied a viral video shared on social media, the woman—whose identity has not been publicly released—was unable to conceive another child after giving birth to the boy, who had been unable to walk from birth. Desperate and seeking spiritual intervention, she reportedly travelled to Benin City to consult a self-acclaimed seer, who allegedly informed her that the child was a python in human form and was the sole cause of her repeated miscarriages and secondary infertility. “The seer told me that the child was a python and that if I did not get rid of the child, I would either continue giving birth to children with the same condition or never conceive again,” she was quoted as saying in the video.
Acting on that chilling advice, the mother marched her helpless five-year-old to a river within the community and threw him into the water. Reports indicate that vigilant youths and nearby residents noticed her erratic movements near the riverbank, rushed to the scene, and apprehended her before she could escape.
As of Wednesday morning, the Edo State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident, and the Police Public Relations Officer stated that she was unaware of the occurrence and had not provided any reaction when contacted.
The case has triggered strong condemnation on social media, with many Nigerians expressing disbelief that a mother could act on such a prophecy. However, public health advocates have also noted that the child’s inability to walk points directly to common congenital or neurological conditions such as Cerebral Palsy or Spina Bifida, which are often misclassified in superstitious settings. Gynecologists have similarly emphasized that secondary infertility is a purely biological medical issue, often triggered by post-delivery infections or hormonal imbalances, entirely unrelated to the health or existence of an existing child.
Community leaders and human rights organizations are now demanding that the police launch a manhunt for the “seer” who orchestrated the child’s death, and bring both the spiritualist and the mother to justice.
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