Bayelsa Police Vows To Arrest Youths Who Stoned Mentally-ill Man To Death Over Witchcraft Allegation

CP Ben Nebolisa Okolo, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police has called on the operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department to arrest the suspects that killed a man over witchcraft allegation.

The victim identified as John Dimie was stoned to death at Agudama Epie axis of Yenagoa, the state capital on September 14, 2022.

In a viral video on social media, some youths were seen stoning the victim who was on the rooftop of a building.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Asinim Butswat, in a statement on Saturday September 17, said that the viral video was being investigated to identify the perpetrators and arrest them.

"On 14 September 2022 at about 0730 hours, Policemen responded to a distressed call at Agudama Epie, Yenagoa, that a young man was allegedly lynched to death by irate youths on allegation of witchraft. Before the arrival of the Policemen the youths have deserted the area," the statement read.

"The victim was later identified as John Dimie 'm' who was allegedly mentally deranged. In a viral video trending on social media, some youths were seen stoning the victim on a rooftop of a building. The viral video is being subjected to forensic analysis to identify the perpetrators and arrest them.

"The command hereby warn members of the public to desist from taking the laws into their own hands, as perpetrators of jungle justice will be fished out to face the full wrath of the law."