Benue resident tortured to death over missing goat

A man was reportedly tortured to death in Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State over an alleged missing goat.

The victim, whose name was given as, Ordue Akume, was allegedly fingered by his relatives to have stolen the missing animal.

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Witnesses said the youngest siblings of the deceased had reported to the youths of his community that his goat was missing and in a bid to find it, they had consulted a seer.

It was gathered that the seer revealed to them that the deceased was responsible for the missing goat.

But the deceased as learnt denied the allegation, which did not go down well with his accusers who however, in their bid to force him to confess to the alleged crime tortured him despite pleas by residents as well as passersby.

Our correspondent gathered from witnesses that the deceased was moved from the scene of torture and dumped at a private clinic where he gave up the ghost.

Information Officer of Ushongo LGA, Edmund Igbawua, in a statement, said the council authority had ordered the immediate arrest of those who perpetuated the unlawful act.

He stated that the Ushongo council chairman, Joseph Asawa, who handed the order, also vowed to ensure prosecution of those suspected to have tortured their own brother to death.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Benue, DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident, saying five persons have been arrested.

Anene explained that the police received the report that some youths in Lessel tortured the deceased to the death over the missing goat.