Akwa Ibom Man Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Beheading Brother Over Witchcraft Allegation
A 29-year-old man, Akaninyene Thomas Okpon, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo for the murder of his elder brother, Friday Thomas Enyenokpon, whom he accused of being a witch responsible for his misfortunes.
The incident, which occurred in 2018 at Ikot Abasi Asutan in the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, involved Akaninyene and his now-deceased brother, 37-year-old Ime Thomas Okpon, who was also accused but died in custody before the trial concluded.
According to the case details, the two siblings lay in ambush for their elder brother, who had gone to check his hunting traps. They then beheaded him and buried his head separately—a crime that shocked and devastated the community.
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Delivering judgment in Suit No. HU/5C/2019 on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Okon Okon, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The conviction was based on the defendant’s confessional statement and other corroborating evidence.
The court noted that Akaninyene, a primary three school dropout, had previously threatened to kill the deceased and other family members. He later led police officers to the scene of the crime where the body was recovered.
In his judgment, Justice Okon stated, “The sentence of the Court upon you, Akaninyere Thomas Okpon, is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead.”
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the weapons used in the murder—two machetes marked as Exhibits 1 and 1A—to the state.
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