Man Killed Over Witchcraft Accusation Family Cries For Justice As Police Probe Stalls

A 33-year-old man has been killed by lynching, following accusations of witchcraft at Tengelento-Buradeni in the Kpandai District of the Northern Region, triggering anger and calls for justice from his grieving family.

The victim, identified as Nteja Ibotul, was reportedly attacked on April 15, 2026, following accusations that he was spiritually responsible for the death of an elderly member of the community.

Tensions in the community are said to have escalated after a soothsayer, invited during funeral rites of the deceased elderly resident, accused Ibotul of causing the death.

Fearing for his safety, Nteja Ibotul attempted to flee the area but was allegedly ambushed by unidentified assailants who inflicted severe head injuries and abandoned him by the roadside.

He was rushed to the Kpandai District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. His body has since been deposited at the ECG Hospital morgue as investigations continue.

Assembly Member for the area, Joshua, who confirmed the incident to Graphic Online, said he initially believed it was a road accident.

“I received a call about a lifeless body on the road. When we got there, we realised it was not an accident. He was taken to the hospital, but he didn’t survive,” he explained.

The family of the deceased is now demanding justice, expressing frustration over what they describe as slow police action nearly two weeks after the incident.

“Since that day, we have not heard anything from the police. We fear the case may be abandoned,” a relative lamented.

However, the police have pushed back, stating that the family has not fully cooperated with investigators, particularly in facilitating a post-mortem and helping to identify suspects mentioned in their statements.

According to the police, ongoing intelligence efforts are underway, but arrests cannot be made without proper identification and sufficient evidence.

Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive for Kpandai, Haruna Abdul-Karim, has strongly condemned the killing, describing it as a criminal act.

“Crime has no place in our society. This is murder under Ghanaian law, and anyone found responsible must face prosecution,” he stated.

Abdul-Karim urged the police to intensify their investigations and called on community members to provide credible information to aid the process.

He also encouraged individuals linked to the incident to report to the police, assuring that the District Security Council would support a fair and thorough investigation.