Akwa Ibom couple poison 10-year-old son, blame him for family’s poverty

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a man, Akan Umoh, and his wife, Rita, for allegedly killing their 10-year-old son, Saviour Umoh.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the deceased, who was accused of being a wizard, was given a poisonous substance to exorcise him, but the victim died.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, in a statement on Tuesday, said Rita, who was the victim’s stepmother, accused him of being responsible for the family problems.

The statement read in part, “On August 29, 2021, around 4.30pm, relying on information received from one Mfon Francis, of Ekpat Iduot village, that one Akan Jimmy Umoh and his wife, Rita Jimmy Umoh, of same address, conspired and poisoned her stepson, Master Savior Jimmy Umoh, a 10-year-old boy, on the allegation of witchcraft.

“Detectives from the Abak division swiftly responded and arrested the duo of Akan and Rita, who are the father and stepmother of the deceased.

“On interrogation, suspects confessed to have administered  a poisonous concoction called, ‘Evil Beans’ to the child to remove the witchcraft, which they, according to prophecy, claimed was the cause of their economic misfortune and health challenges, including the poor academic performance of his half siblings.

“A search in the house revealed a boldly written inscription on the wall by the step-mother, ‘Saviour is the witch of this house.’ Photographs were taken, while the corpse was removed and deposited in a mortuary for autopsy.”

Punch