The police disclosed that in August, relying on information received from one Mfon Francis, arrested one Akan Jimmy Umoh and his wife, Rita Jimmy Umoh, of Ekpat Iduot village in Abak LGA, for allegedly conspiring and poisoning to death her stepson, one Master Savior Jimmy Umoh, a 10-year-old boy, on the allegation of witchcraft.
Akwa Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Odiko MacDon, said: “Detectives of Abak Division swiftly responded and arrested the duo of Akan and Rita Jimmy Umoh who are father and step-mother of the deceased.
“On interrogation, suspects confessed to have administered poisonous concoction called “evil beans” on the child to remove witchcraft, which they, according to prophecy, claimed was the cause of their economic misfortunes 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 stepmother, ‘Saviour is the witch of this house.’ Photographs were taken while the corpse was removed and deposited in the mortuary for autopsy.”
The police gave the assurance that the perpetrators of those crimes would be prosecuted even as the commissioner of police has called on members of the public to be vigilant and do well in giving the police and sister security agencies timely information to assist in curbing crimes and criminality.