Unidentified individuals, believed to be associated with a cult, brutally attacked and fatally wounded a man with mental health challenges in Awka, the capital of Anambra State. The incident occurred on a Sunday while the victim was seated at his usual spot in Dike Park, near Zik Avenue, where the suspected cult members confronted him.
According to an eyewitness, the suspected cultists initially fired shots at the man, but their bullets failed to harm him. Subsequently, they resorted to stabbing him with various sharp objects and even pelting him with stones until he succumbed to his injuries.
The motive behind this violent act remains unclear, but it is suggested that the cultists may have targeted him due to his alleged involvement in cult activities before he developed mental health issues.
Residents in the area had varying opinions about the victim’s mental state. Some believed he was not mentally challenged, while others claimed he exhibited unusual behavior, such as eating his own waste when staying at his regular spot.
These gruesome incidents of cult-related violence have been on the rise in Awka and its surroundings over the years. In response, the Commissioner of Police for the state, CP Aderemi Adeoye, recently declared a crackdown on the cultists and their backers, warning of consequences if the violence continues.
The state police spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the man’s killing and reported that the Central Police Station’s Divisional Police Officer in Awka swiftly dispatched officers to the scene to prevent further unrest. The deceased’s mental health status will be determined once his family claims his body. In the meantime, the police are cooperating with witnesses to apprehend the perpetrators.
