Four Men Arrested Over Murder Of A Woman Accused Of Witchcraft
Police in the Bunkpurugu Yonyoo District of the North East Region have arrested four individuals in connection with the murder of a 70 year old woman who was accused of being a witch. In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 15, the police said the suspects fled Sangbana village after the incident but were later apprehended through intelligence-led operations at separate hideouts.
Several other suspects remain at large. The arrested individuals will be arraigned before court upon completion of investigations. Meanwhile, the police have cautioned residents of the North East Region to desist from accusing others of witchcraft and subjecting them to physical violence.
The suspects, Suuk Jakwa, 67; Banyiwoo Ntookwib, 32; Moapya Kwayaja, 30; and Amos Nlaji, 29, are alleged to have lynched Noab Bilatukin on Thursday, 10 July 2025. According to the North East Regional Police Command, the men fled the village following the incident but were later arrested at various hideouts in surrounding communities on Monday, 14 July, after police acted on intelligence.
In a statement, the North East Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Robert Anabiik Anmain, strongly condemned the killing and cautioned the public against mob justice and unfounded witchcraft accusations. This is a criminal act, and offenders will be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” DSP Anmain said, urging communities to report suspicions to the appropriate authorities.
