Mother Dies After Son Allegedly Sets Her Ablaze Over Witchcraft Claim

(Elderly Woman. Photo by Vanguard News)

A man is being hunted by police after allegedly pouring fuel on his elderly mother and setting her on fire in Cross River State on Friday, August 14.

Mrs Atim Akposi suffered severe burns in the att@ck in Ojo community.

She was taken to a health center, then a hospital in the area, and finally transferred to a teaching hospital where she d!ed on Monday.

Family members say the suspect had accused his mother of witchcraft for years.

He claimed she was responsible for his child’s d£ath and blamed her for various problems in his life.

He allegedly confronted her multiple times with accusations.

On the day of the incident, he entered her room and tried to strangle her.

When she resisted, he hit her until she fell, then doused her with fuel and set her alight before fleeing.

Neighbors who witnessed the att@ck raised the alarm and helped get her to the hospital.

The suspect’s brother said he was informed after a video of the incident was sent to him.

He advised the family to move their mother from a local hospital to a bigger teaching hospital for better care, but she d!ed there.

Police have registered a case and launched a search for the suspect.

An organization that advocates for people accused of witchcraft has condemned the att@ck, calling it a brutal result of witchcraft beliefs.

They called for the suspect’s arrest and prosecution and urged churches to stop spreading narratives that fuel violence against people accused of witchcraft.