The Cross River State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the killers of Mrs Martina Itagbor, who was accused of witchcraft in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state on June 18.
Mrs Itagbor was also accused of being behind the death of several youths in her community, including two brothers who died on their way back from Calabar, where they had gone for the inauguration of House of Assembly members.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Gyogon Grimah, directed that the perpetrators be tracked down, arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
This was made known in statement by the Command’s PPRO, SP Irene Ugbo, and made available to newsmen in Calabar, the state’s capital, on Saturday.
The Commissioner, who described the incident as unfortunate, stressed that no individual or group had the right to take another life under any guise whatsoever.
ValidViewNetwork learned that the deceased, mother of four was beaten and her fingers chopped off, after she was accused of witchcraft and was thereafter set ablaze by irate youths of Old Netim community in Akamkpa Council.
According to CP Grimah, jungle justice is a heinous crime that the police seriously frowns at and would do everything necessary to ensure such does not repeat itself again because no one has the right to take life.
“The issue of jungle justice is one crime that the Police does not take lightly and, as such, we have already commenced manhunt for those responsible for the dastardly act.
“Those responsible, no matter how highly placed, will be arrested and prosecuted according to the laws of the land.
“We are going to treat them like the criminals that they are, and no stone would be left unturned on this matter.
“They can only run but won’t hide. Enough is enough. Jungle justice is not the solution.
“All those involved in the murder of Mrs Itagbor would be brought to book, and the law will take it’s full cause. We won’t relent until they are in our custody,” CP Grimah assured.
