Mobilised For Justice: Police Tackle Deadly Rise Of Witchcraft Accusations

The current approach to police mobilization is hindering efforts to combat witch persecution in the country. Urgent and decisive action is needed from the police force.

In Nigeria, victims of witchcraft allegations often encounter a major obstacle when seeking justice: the unlawful yet common requirement to pay police officers—known as “mobilization”—before any investigation or arrest can occur. Though illegal, this practice significantly hinders efforts to combat witch hunts and ritual abuse, especially in impoverished rural communities where most victims reside.

Many of these individuals are elderly, ill, or subsistence farmers, struggling to meet basic needs—let alone pay police fees. As a result, their reports are frequently ignored unless they can cover the costs of transportation or allowances for officers. This exploitation exacerbates their trauma and leaves them without protection.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) has handled multiple such cases. One occurred in Ebonyi State on May 14, 2025, involving a man named Kingsley, who was accused of ritual killings over a family land dispute. Elders in his community gave him a grim choice: death or public disgrace. When no family endorsed his execution, he was paraded naked, covered in waste, and humiliated. A video of the abuse circulated widely.

AfAW provided medical support and petitioned police in Afikpo. Though an officer was assigned, the police demanded ₦200,000 for logistics. When AfAW offered ₦50,000, they were told the case would not move forward without additional funds—even after a formal complaint had been filed.

While poor funding and working conditions plague the Nigerian police force, this does not excuse extortion. Demanding payment from victims of witch hunts amounts to revictimization and shields perpetrators from justice.

AfAW urges the Inspector General of Police to end this exploitative practice and ensure that alleged witches receive justice without cost. The police must protect all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable, without demanding illegal payments.

— Leo Igwe, Director, Advocacy for Alleged Witches