On a fateful day of June 12, the lives of the Ekpono family in Agharoza, Iboko, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, were changed forever.
The family was engulfed in sorrow and despair as their homes and farms were laid to waste by a group of youths in the community, following allegations of witchcraft leveled against them by a self-proclaimed prophet.
Reports suggest that chaos erupted when the cleric claimed that Mr. John Ekpono and others were to blame for the misfortunes plaguing the community.
Convinced by this revelation, the enraged youths rampaged through Ekpono’s property, burning down houses, crops, and other possessions, citing them as sources of evil. 
Speaking to NewsNow recently, Mr. Chijioke Ekpono, the victim’s son, recounted the harrowing experience and expressed fears of further attacks on his family.
He described how a village crusade was organized without proper authorization from the local government, leading to a confrontation that implicated his father in sinister activities and triggered the destruction of their belongings.
“The people of Agharoza conspired to destroy everything my father had worked for. Our homes and farms were razed to the ground, leaving us with unimaginable loss. We pray for divine intervention,” he lamented.
Commenting on the incident, the Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area, Barrister Stephen Emenike Nwakpu, denounced the violence as unjustifiable and primitive.
He revealed that authorities had apprehended and detained about 30 suspects involved in the arson, with efforts ongoing to capture the remaining culprits.
Regarding the welfare of the victims, Nwakpu assured that measures were being taken to support the displaced family.
Confirming the situation, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Ebonyi State Command, DSP Joshua Ukandu, affirmed that a probe had been initiated to apprehend the absconding suspects.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Ebonyi State intervened to address the severe human rights violation.
In an interview with NewsNow, the state coordinator of NHRC, Mr. Christopher Okorie, deplored the brutality stemming from superstitious beliefs and baseless accusations of witchcraft.
Okorie emphasized the commission’s commitment to ensuring justice prevailed in such cases to deter future acts of persecution based on unfounded claims.