A 60-year-old woman, Florence Osang, has been driven out of Abo-Obisu community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State following accusations of witchcraft linked to the death of a local leader.
Osang, a cocoa farmer, was reportedly banished for ten years by community authorities who alleged that she was responsible for the sudden illness and death of Moses Mbia Tawo, the community chairman.
Reports indicate that tensions began when the late chairman questioned the extent of farmland Osang had cleared. Community leaders allegedly imposed a ₦350,000 fine on her, claiming she exceeded boundaries considered appropriate. When she failed to pay the fine, she was said to have been arrested and detained at the Abo Police Station.
Shortly after the incident, the chairman reportedly fell ill and later died. His death sparked accusations within the village, with Osang summoned before community leaders and accused of involvement through supernatural means.
However, her legal representatives have strongly challenged the community’s actions. In a petition addressed to the National Human Rights Commission and the Department of Public Prosecution in Calabar, the lawyers described the treatment of their client as degrading, unlawful, and a violation of her fundamental rights.
The petition further alleged that Osang was compelled to lease out her cocoa farm to raise ₦20 million, allegedly demanded for ritual purposes. Her lawyers stated that she has since been left without shelter or a stable source of income.
They warned that those responsible could face legal consequences if immediate corrective steps are not taken.
The incident has once again brought attention to recurring cases of witchcraft accusations and mob actions in parts of Cross River State, raising concerns among human rights advocates about the protection of vulnerable individuals in rural communities.