Man, wife arrested for killing their son over allegations he is a wizard

The Akwa Ibom state police command have arrested a man, Essien Okon,  and his wife, Peace, for allegedly killing their 12-year-old son, Joseph.

According to the police, Essien and his wife, Peace allegedly prepared a poisonous concoction with a certain seed called asene and forced the boy to drink it so he can die because they believed he was a wizard and was responsible for the ill-luck they have encountered for many years.

When interrogated, Essien said his son was a wizard, who killed his former wife who was his mother. Essien said after the demise of Joseph's mother, he got married to Peace and that ever since then, his family has not known any progress.

Confirming his arrest, the state Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, said 

“On March 25, 2019, operatives of Oron division arrested one Essien Okon and Peace Okon of Edoho Emma Street, Oron Local Government Area, who conspired and lured their son, Joseph Okon, now deceased, whom they accused of witchcraft, into an engine boat on the pretext of going to cut bamboo sticks in a swamp to be used for construction of a kitchen. .

“While at the swamp, the suspects removed a concoction, prepared with poisonous seed called asene and water. They used enema and pumped the concoction into the deceased’s stomach, leading to his instant death. The suspects secretly dug a shallow grave in the swamp and buried the deceased there,” he said

 Ahmed said the suspects will be charged to court soon.