Irene Ugbo, a spokeswoman for the Cross Rivers State police, claimed that the state commissioner had directed a thorough inquiry into the horrific burning of Madam Martina Okey Itagbor due to supposed witchcraft.
According to information obtained by Platinum Times from Nigerian journalist and activist Agba Jalingo, Itagbor, a member of the Catholic Women’s Organization (CWO), was killed by 14 youths led by Christopher Sunday Mbey after another CWO member accused her of killing her two sons who had died in an accident.
According to Jalingo, the victim was mercilessly murdered by Old Netim youths in the state’s Akamkpa Local Government Area in front of the community’s Catholic church while a CWO meeting was going on inside.
He claims that one of Martina’s children, who is a CWO member as well, was also inside the church when her mother was on fire and was prevented from leaving to assist her mother.
The suspects were named by Jalingo as Festus Etim Umoh (Dep. Leader), Emem Etim Umoh, Enearokot Omonga Peter, Stephen aka Pompori, Obaji, Destiny Ime Brown, Joseph Omonga Orok, Eyu Adogo, Louis Bassey Peter, Orok Okon Orok, Mesembe Anembe, Malachi Sylvanus, and Thelfa Okon Nyong.
The state police spokesperson, Irene Ugbo, stated the names of the perpetrators had been made public and that an investigation is underway in an interview with SaharaReporters.
Itagbor refuted the assertion that police personnel were present when Martina was slain and took no action to stop the tragedy.
“Some names of the youths have been made public, and we are working to determine whether they are actually involved and the strength of the evidence against them,” she said.
“The allegation is not true. No policeman was there when they were carrying out their barbaric act. What they did is a jungle justice and there is a punishment for that in law and no police will be watching them doing that.”