Witchcraft Accusations and Enforced Disappearance of Ms Inyang in Cross River -By Leo Igwe

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches is disturbed by the report of the enforced disappearance of Ms Arit Inyang following accusations of witchcraft in Calabar, Cross River state. A local advocate confirmed this tragic news in a message sent to AfAW: “Mama Arit is always visiting my house right from when she came in contact with me after the nephew, Mr Anthony Malachy, branded her a witch. Mama would always come and tell me whenever Anthony came accusing or threatening her. On October 27, I checked Mama Arit, and she was not in her house. I thought she went out. I decided to go home. Later, a close relative reported that Mama Arit had not yet been seen for days. I was very sick. I asked the relative to go to the police and report. But she didn’t. The relative visited my house three times, telling me that Mama had not been seen. She told me Mama’s nephew, Anthony, was asking Ms Inyang if she didn’t want to die. I told her to inform the police”.
According to local sources, Ms Arit is about 86 years old and a widow. The husband, a retired military officer, passed away some years ago. And she has no children. An advocate who is familiar with the case told AfAW: “Mr Anthony Malachy, aged 40, residing at Isong Inyang Akamkpa Adjacent Christian Academy near the celestial church, accused Mama of witchcraft. Anthony’s mother passed away, and he accused Ms Arit of killing his mother through witchcraft. Mr Anthony came on several occasions with a machete and threatened to kill Mama, stating that if anyone in the family died again, since two persons had died, he would kill her.
Mama Arit said that Anthony entered her house and collected the clothes that were given to her at an empowerment program for victims of witch hunts in Calabar. He also carried all her cooking utensils: pots, spoons, etc. Anthony took away boxes of clothes from her house before this very incident occurred. Mama said Anthony did all this to her because she was childless and a widow. Mama was begging for justice before they killed her”.

A local advocate stated that the following incident must have led to her sudden disappearance: “On January 23, 2024, Mr Anthony said birds were making noise late in the night. He accused Mama Arit of turning into a bird and engaging in some witchcraft. By 1:00 am, he got up and started throwing stones at Mama’s house. In response, Mama sneaked out of her house at about 3 am that night. She went and slept in a nearby bush, at Plantain Farm, until she saw someone preaching in the area. She came out of her hiding and started moving down to my house, half-naked. I refuse to give her some clothes. I decided to take her like that to the police station because that is the 3rd time with her in the police station”.

Local advocates petitioned the police, and Anthony was arrested. He signed an undertaking not to accuse, harass, or threaten Ms Inyang again, and he was subsequently released. Some days after his release, Ms Inyang went missing and has not been seen to date. Advocates suspect that Anthony abducted, disappeared, and must have murdered Ms Inyang and disposed of the corpse.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches urges the Inspector General of Police to investigate the enforced disappearance of Ms Inyang. The police should arrest and investigate Mr Anthony Malachy and others suspected of being involved in this tragic incident.

Leo Igwe directs the Advocacy for Alleged Witches