Young Woman flees home after family demands her life as revenge for cousin’s suicide
Fear and accusations of witchcraft have torn apart a family in Edo State, forcing a young woman, Okafor Gloria Eseosa, to flee for her life after relatives allegedly plotted to kill her.
According Mrs. Wilson Grace, Gloria’s aunt, the crisis began after her cousin, Oronsaye Aisosa Sailas, died by suicide on September 19, 2020.
Before his death, Sailas reportedly left a note explaining he had borrowed money from a group of boys, lost it on a bet, and chose to end his life rather than face their threats.
Despite this clear explanation, grief quickly spiraled into accusations. The boy’s father, Mr. Oronsaye Anthony, allegedly accused his sister, Mrs. Okafor Veronica, Gloria’s mother, of witchcraft and of being responsible for his son’s death.
Following the accusation, Veronica was banished from their community, stripped of her belongings, and subjected to degrading treatment. Attempts to resettle her in nearby villages failed as elders, influenced by the accusations, ordered her out repeatedly.
Matters took a darker turn when, according to the affidavit, some family members insisted that Veronica would only be forgiven if she surrendered her first child, Gloria Eseosa, to be killed as revenge for Aisosa’s death.
Fearing for her safety after learning of the alleged plot, Gloria was advised to escape from the community.
Mrs. Wilson Grace confirmed the ordeal and described the threats as “wicked and inhuman,” stressing that her niece had no choice but to run to preserve her life.
The matter underscores the continuing dangers posed by witchcraft-related accusations in parts of Nigeria, where victims, often women and children, face banishment, violence, or even death.
