A 23-year old man, simply identified as Samuel, has been lynched by
angry mob for allegedly attempting to use a 4-year old girl for ritual
in Awka, Anambra state.
The deceased, from Benue State and a driver with a private school in the
area, was said to have attempted to kill the little girl in her mother’s
shop while she was away.
It was gathered that the mother of the victim, a petty trader, had gone
to buy food for the daughter when she was attacked by the suspect.
Narrating her ordeal, Mrs Ginika Eze, a native of Alumona-Nsukka, Enugu
state alleged that the deceased mission was to kill her daughter for
ritual purposes.
She said, “I brought my daughter to stay with me at the shop so at to
keep eye on her since her school was on mid-term break.
“When she complained she was hungry and wanted to eat beans with bread
for lunch, I dashed to a nearby shop to buy the items.
“It was not long my attention was drawn to my stall where my daughter
was struggling with a man almost half necked.
“He was kissing her and fondling her breast, while muttering, “I must
drink your blood.”
The 42-year-old woman said she had to raise alarm as the man was already
kissing her all over her face and was about to defile her.
“Luckily, some boys within the area ran to the scene of the incident and
started dragging my daughter with him.
“By then, blood was already dropping from her face as the man held her
tight in his arms.”
She however said she was able to retrieve the daughter and rushed her
to a hospital where she was receiving treatment.
A witness, who preferred anonymity, claimed the deceased was shouting
for blood and was about to suck the girl’s blood before he was lynched.
He said the father of the deceased had already been contacted.
Confirming the incident, the Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed said
the deceased was probably under the influence of some hard drugs.
He said, “He captured the 4-year-old girl and was molesting her sexually
before he was arrested by some civilians who carried out jungle justice
on him.
“When the police arrived the scene, the boy, who was probably in his
late 20s, was lying motionless on the ground while his assailants had
dispersed.
“He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was confirmed dead.
Investigations are still on to ascertain what transpired and to arrest
perpetrators of the crime.”
Mohammed however said no arrests had been made, adding that the victim
was stable and responding to treatment.