Tragedy struck in Adamgbe community of Mbayongo in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue state when a middle aged man identified as Tyoakaa Ijoho set ablaze, in a round hut, a 111 years-old blind woman known as Mama Martha Igyuse Bonka.

This is the second time, in recent time, that  pandemonium will break out in Adamgbe community leading to the gruesome death of innocent persons.

LEADERSHIP recall that a church known as St. Roberts Catholic Mission, Adamgbe had, in April 2012, collapsed during Easter vigil and killed 22 worshippers including nursing mothers and children. Scores of persons sustained various degrees of injuries.

However, our correspondent reported that the latest ugly incident which happened during the weekend, occurred when residents of the Adamgbe village had reportedly all gone to places of worship.

It was further gathered that the man who committed the crime, had few months earlier, lost his father who was a retired army personnel and that the retiree died of snake bite when he was coming back from farm, the development that was attributed to witchcraft by the son of the deceased.

Though it was gathered that the law breaker (Tyoakaa) left his community about 18 years ago, to his mothers’ village in Konshisha Local Government Area of the state because of reported cases of witchcraft in his family.

It was upon hearing the sad news of the death of his father, recently, that he relocated to his fatherland in Adambge community where he reportedly contributed in the arrangements for the final burial of his late father.

But many have wondered why the blind old woman was set ablaze in the house; an incident that lasted for about 40 minutes without anybody rescuing her by residents of the Adamgbe community.

Meanwhile, the Head of Chafa family, Mr. Ahangba Chafa who narrated the incident to LEADERSHIP said that Tyoakaa whom, he confirmed committed the crime had, few weeks after his father’s burial, allegedly consulted an oracle to know the cause of his father’s death and was told that it was the Igyuse Chafa family that killed him.

According to Chafa, nobody except the late blind old woman was in the house when the culprit came to set ablaze 10 round huts including the late elderly woman and that another 78 years old woman, Mama Mezaga Chafa who, according to him, heard the cry had rushed to the scene and tried to pull out the late blind woman from the burnt building but because of old age, she was unable to rescue her.

He stated that the vigilante group in Adamgbe quickly arrested the man and handed him over to the police in Vandeikya LGA Division, adding that household items, as well as motorcycles and assorted farm produce were completely burnt during the tragedy. Police public relations officer, DSP Daniel Ezeala, confirmed the incident and said that the culprit was arrested by the police, adding that he was handed over to CID. The police spokesman added that the suspect was said to be insane but that investigation was ongoing.

– Leadership Newspaper