Imo youths kill, burn head teacher accused of sorcery

A serving head teacher, Mr. Cosmas Nwaiwu, has been reportedly killed by irate youths from Nneoche Umuoma Nzerem in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

Nwaiwu, 57, who was said to have been killed on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 was the Head Teacher of Obolo Primary School, Ehime Mbano.

Our correspondent on Monday gathered that Nwaiwu was murdered on the allegation that he was “diabolically diverting the destiny” of three members of his extended family.

It was also gathered that a relation also accused him of being responsible for the death of her husband.

Sequel to these accusations, the youths of the area allegedly mobilised one another and besieged his house, murdered Nwaiwu and then burned his body.

Though Nwaiwu’s wife, Mary, could not talk when contacted on phone, a close family source told our correspondent that Nwaiwu was killed as result of envy by his relations who felt he had made progress in life ahead of them.

“He was not diabolical at all. As a teacher who was nearing the retirement age, he managed to build a bungalow of four rooms. But his relations, who neither went to school nor learnt a trade, cooked up the story that he was the one bewitching them.”

When contacted on phone, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, confirmed the incident.

Enwerem, a Superintendent of Police said, “We have arrested three suspects, including the President General of the community, Mr. Nnanna Okonkwo, in connection with the incident and thorough investigations are in progress.”

Punch, December 4, 2017

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now