Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The devastating consequences of witchcraft accusations in Ebonyi State have been laid bare as the sons of a septuagenarian recounted how their father was nearly beaten to death, publicly paraded, and banished from his community over a false claim of diabolism. The victim, Joseph Agwu, a native of Ekwashi, Ngbo autonomous community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, was tortured by villagers who accused him of killing his brother’s child and other community members through occult means, leading to the destruction of his property and a five-year exile. His sons, who have spoken out against the injustice, described the harrowing events that unfolded on August 4, 2025, when a mob subjected their father to a brutal assault that nearly claimed his life.
According to multiple reports from Vanguard, The Sun, and Advocate Ng, the attack on Agwu followed an accusation by one of his brothers, who claimed that Agwu had confessed to the killings while drunk at a burial ceremony. Despite Agwu's steadfast denial of the allegations, villagers tied palm fronds all over his body, paraded him through the community, including market squares, and subjected him to a severe beating. His sons, who witnessed the ordeal, said the mob showed no mercy, and their father was left for dead after the assault. "They tortured him to near death," his sons recounted, adding that the villagers destroyed his two compounds and set his belongings ablaze.
The sons have since come forward to demand justice, describing the accusation as a conspiracy to steal their father's land. Agwu himself, who has been in exile at his maternal home in Umuezeaka autonomous community since the attack, maintained his innocence and suggested that the accusation was a ploy to drive him out of his community. “They just conspired and intimidated me out of my community so as to take over my vast lands and farms,” he told Vanguard. His sons echoed this sentiment, alleging that some of their father's relatives orchestrated the false accusation to inherit his property.
The case of Joseph Agwu is not an isolated incident. A roundtable discussion in Abakaliki with the National Human Rights Commission and the NGO Advocacy for Alleged Witches highlighted the widespread nature of such abuses, with victims including Onwe Nwamaka, whose husband was also banished after a false witchcraft accusation. Nwamaka recounted how her husband was beaten to near death and banished after his brothers alleged he had killed a sibling through diabolical means. She and her children were also banished, their homes demolished, and their farms destroyed. Another victim, Thomas Eze, was similarly accused of witchcraft and forced to take an oath to prove his innocence.
The traditional ruler of Umuoguduakpu Ngbo community, Godwin Ogba, expressed displeasure at how people accuse others of witchcraft without evidence, noting that the youth often act as executioners and ignore the instructions of elders and traditional rulers. He called on governments, NGOs, and the Nigerian Bar Association to intervene to guarantee public peace and tranquility. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has also urged the Ebonyi State Government to ensure justice for victims, warning that only justice will help stem the tide of abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs.
The Agwu family's ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of witch-hunts in Nigeria. Human rights groups have repeatedly condemned these practices, which often target the elderly, widows, and other vulnerable persons. The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has called for the arrest and prosecution of those who perpetrate such abuses. As the sons of Joseph Agwu continue to seek justice, their father remains in exile, hoping for the day he can return home.
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