Alleged Witchcraft: Pastor and Two Others Remanded for Dehumanizing 90-Year-Old Woman and Others

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a pastor and another individual for allegedly dehumanizing and brutalizing 90-year-old Adishetu Atairu, the Chief Imam of the Ofukpo-Ekperi community in Etsako Central Local Government of Edo State, along with six others.

According to NIGERIA NEWS 247, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the arrests in Benin City on Thursday. He stated, “The incident is confirmed, the police are aware of it. The pastor and one other person have been arrested and are in police custody. The suspects have been charged to court.”

The alleged abuse was captured in a viral video shared on WhatsApp and Facebook. The video shows a crowd at night, reportedly led by a man identified as Pastor Sharp-Sharp. One video depicts a young man brutalizing Adishetu Atairu and the community’s Chief Imam, Musa Shaibu, along with six others.

In the footage, an elderly woman with a walking stick is dragged to the middle of the crowd, where a young man yells at her to sit down. She is later seen sitting on a chair, but Pastor Sharp-Sharp orders her to sit on the ground, and another young man kicks her legs, causing her to collapse.

Another clip shows the Chief Imam sitting on the bare ground while a young man removes his cap. The same mistreatment was reportedly inflicted on a young woman wearing a hijab, whom the pastor accused of killing a man named Eshe and his wife through diabolical means.

Abu Buhari, a community resident, reported that the incident occurred on July 5, 2024. Buhari, who identified Adishetu Atairu as his stepmother, stated that she and others were dehumanized and assaulted by the pastor and his accomplices. He reported the incident to the police and submitted a petition, leading to the pastor’s arrest on July 17 by the Police Area Command Office in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government.

Buhari called on the police and relevant government agencies to intervene to prevent communal and religious crises and ensure justice for the victims, who remain in pain.

The Edo Muslims for Equity and Good Governance (EMEGG) praised the Nigeria Police Force and other security operatives for addressing the situation promptly. The group’s coordinator, Sirajudeen Muhammad, assured Muslims in Edo State and beyond that justice would be served. He confirmed that the pastor and two others have been charged to court and stated, “We were at the court today and will always be present at the court.”

The case has been adjourned to August 7, 2024, for hearing.