By Chinedu Sabastine

ENUGU — The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) has called on traditional rulers, Presidents-General and other community leaders to end violence and human rights abuses against persons accused of witchcraft in their communities.

The Convener of AfAW, Dr. Leo Igwe, made the call on Thursday in Enugu during a press briefing ahead of the 2026 World Day Against Witch Hunts, scheduled for August 10.

Speaking on this year’s theme, “Chiefs and Ending Witch Hunts in Communities,” Igwe said the campaign seeks to highlight the critical role of traditional rulers and community leaders in combating witchcraft-related violence.

He alleged that some chiefs and community leaders fuel witch hunts by encouraging or condoning assaults, public humiliation, banishment and other forms of abuse against people labelled as witches.

Igwe urged traditional institutions to desist from actions that promote witchcraft accusations, stressing that many victims are elderly people living with dementia or adherents of traditional religions who are wrongly branded as witches.

He noted that countries such as Scotland have abolished laws and practices that encouraged the persecution of alleged witches, urging Nigerian communities, particularly in the South-East, to embrace similar human rights standards.

“AfAW urges chiefs to take urgent measures to end abuses linked to witchcraft beliefs and ritual attacks in their communities. This call aligns with the 2021 United Nations resolution urging states to combat human rights violations committed in the name of witchcraft beliefs or ritual practices,” he said.

According to Igwe, the month of August is dedicated to raising awareness of abuses arising from witchcraft accusations and promoting measures to end them.

He said AfAW, established in 2020, is spearheading a decade-long campaign running from 2020 to 2030 to eradicate witch hunts across Africa.

Igwe maintained that traditional rulers play a pivotal role in either sustaining or ending witch persecution.

“In many communities, chiefs preside over witch trials, banishments and other forms of persecution. Some condone jungle justice and regard witch hunting as part of tradition rather than a violation of human rights,” he alleged.

He called on traditional rulers to become advocates against witch persecution, insisting that witch hunting is unconstitutional and cannot be justified under the guise of culture or tradition.

“All chiefs should become agents of positive and progressive change by helping to eradicate witch persecution and other abuses linked to witchcraft accusations in communities across Nigeria and Africa,” he added.

By Okey Maduforo, Awka

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a female native doctor in connection with the mysterious death of three children in Ideani Community, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said efforts to save the children were unsuccessful, except for one child who survived and is currently receiving treatment. He noted that investigators are hopeful the survivor’s account will provide crucial information to aid the ongoing investigation.

According to Ikenga, the Command received a report on August 5, 2026, about four unconscious children found at a residential premises in Umuoduba Village, Ideani.

“The Anambra State Police Command, today, 5th August 2026, expressed profound sadness over the discovery of four unconscious children at a residential premises in Umuoduba Village, Ideani, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State,” he said.

He explained that a rescue team led by police operatives attached to the Ogidi Police Station immediately rushed the victims to a hospital for emergency medical treatment.

“Regrettably, three of the children were certified dead by medical doctors, while the fourth victim is currently receiving treatment in a critical condition,” Ikenga stated.

He disclosed that a female suspect is currently in police custody in connection with the incident, adding that the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has taken over the case for a thorough, professional, intelligence-driven, and evidence-based investigation.

The police spokesperson further expressed optimism that, subject to the survivor’s recovery and medical clearance, the child’s testimony would help unravel the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident and support further investigative efforts. He added that the bodies of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

While extending condolences to the bereaved families and sympathizing with the people of Ideani Community, the Police Command urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and allow investigators to conclude their work.

The Nigerian Army has arrested two serving soldiers over their alleged involvement in an unauthorised deployment during the wedding ceremony of Nigerian content creator Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, and fellow TikTok personality Jarvis.

The arrests followed intelligence indicating that the soldiers allegedly participated in an illegal deployment at the celebrity wedding held in Lekki, Lagos State, over the weekend.

The personnel were apprehended on Tuesday morning as the Army commenced investigations into the incident.

The arrested soldiers were identified as 23NA/85/10007 Private Onasanya Ifeoluwa of the 81 Division Medical Services and Hospital (81DMSH) and 23NA/85/7885 Private Ukpai Onyinyechi, also attached to the 81DMSH in Obalende, Lagos.

A report on the incident stated: “Following credible intelligence on the involvement of Nigerian Army personnel in illegal deployment during a popular social influencer’s wedding known as Peller at Lekki, Lagos, the Group arrested 23NA/85/10007 PTE Onasanya Ifeoluwa of 81 Division Medical Services and Hospital (81DMSH) and 23NA/85/7885 PTE Ukpai Onyinyechi of 81DMSH at Obalende this morning.”

It added that a preliminary investigation was ongoing to determine the extent of their involvement and identify other personnel connected with the incident.

“Further details will be forwarded as the investigation unfolds,” the report stated.

The arrests came after videos from the high-profile wedding circulated widely on social media, showing uniformed military personnel providing security around some of the celebrity guests.

One of the videos that attracted significant public attention allegedly showed a Nigerian soldier acting as a bouncer for TikTok personality Ivanna, escorting her through the crowded venue.

The footage sparked criticism online, with many Nigerians questioning the presence and alleged deployment of military personnel at a private social event involving influencers and celebrities.

The wedding, held in Lekki over the weekend, attracted prominent entertainers, social media influencers and content creators, with videos from the ceremony dominating social media platforms.

The controversy emerged after clips surfaced showing men in military uniforms controlling access to parts of the venue and escorting some attendees.

The Nigerian Army has repeatedly maintained that serving personnel are prohibited from undertaking unauthorised private security duties or participating in deployments without official approval.

Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have rescued four kidnapped victims in two separate intelligence-driven joint operations conducted within Enugu State and across the border with Benue State.
The operations also led to the recovery of 15 rounds of live ammunition and other exhibits, while the decomposing body of another kidnap victim, who was allegedly shot by his abductors while in captivity, was recovered.
The command said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
In the first operation, operatives of the Udenu Police Division, Anti-Kidnapping Section of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) and Distress Response Squad (DRS), in collaboration with operatives of the Orukam Police Division of the Benue State Command, Benue State Civil Protection Guards, Nigerian Army, Enugu State Forest Guards, Neighbourhood Watch members and Ezimo Vigilante Group, rescued two brothers who were abducted on August 3, 2026, at Ezimo-Ulo in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The operation, which also leveraged the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu’s Handshake Patrol initiative, was carried out across the Enugu-Benue border.
The victims were rescued unhurt at about 1:40 p.m. on August 4, 2026, at Ikele, Owukpa Community, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, following an intense gun duel that forced the kidnappers to flee with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
Recovered from the kidnappers’ hideout were 15 rounds of live ammunition, the victims’ Android phones and car keys, other mobile phones and accessories, a bottle containing suspected hard drugs and drug paraphernalia, clothing items and ₦11,800.
The rescued victims were subsequently debriefed and reunited with their family.
In the second operation, operatives of the Command’s Umabor Police Division, Anti-Kidnapping Section of the VCRU, Enugu State Forest Guards and Neighbourhood Watch members rescued two victims abducted on July 31, 2026, at Amukpa Village, Ogbozara Community, Nsukka Local Government Area.
The Police, however, said another victim was found dead from gunshot injuries sustained while in captivity, with his decomposing body recovered from the forest.
The two rescued victims were debriefed and reunited with their families.
The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended the operatives and other supporting security teams for their courage, professionalism and effective collaboration.
Giwa directed the operatives to sustain the ongoing manhunt for the fleeing suspects and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating violent crime and protecting residents across the state.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and continue providing the Police with credible and actionable information that could assist ongoing security operations.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on August 4, 2026.