Grief and anger have engulfed the family of 33-year-old Nteja Ibotul, who was allegedly lynched following accusations of witchcraft in the Kpandai District, as they call for swift police action over what they describe as delays in justice.
The incident, which occurred on April 15, 2026, reportedly stemmed from claims that Ibotul had spiritually caused the death of an elderly member of the community. According to the family, tensions escalated after a soothsayer invited to perform funeral rites publicly accused him of being responsible for the death.
Fearing for his life, Ibotul fled the community. However, while attempting to escape, he was allegedly attacked by unidentified assailants who inflicted severe head injuries and left 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 pending further investigations.
Assembly Member for the area, Joshua, confirmed the incident, noting that initial reports suggested a road accident.
“I received a call about a lifeless body lying on the road. But when we got there, it became clear that it was not an accident,” he said in an interview.
Nearly two weeks after the incident, the family says little progress has been made in bringing the perpetrators to justice. A relative disclosed that before his death, Ibotul mentioned five individuals as his attackers, and their names were subsequently submitted to the police.
“Since then, we have not heard anything from the police,” the relative said, expressing concern that the case could be abandoned.
The police, however, have denied inaction, stating that investigations are ongoing. They attributed delays to what they describe as limited cooperation from the family, particularly in facilitating a post-mortem examination and helping to properly identify suspects named in their statements.
“Police do not carry out hasty arrests without properly identifying suspects and establishing sufficient evidence for prosecution,” a police source indicated, adding that intelligence efforts are underway to effect arrests.
Meanwhile, the District Chief Executive for Kpandai, Haruna Abdul-Karim, who also chairs the District Security Council, has condemned the killing, describing it as a criminal act that must not go unpunished.
“Crime has no place in our society. What happened is purely murder under the laws of Ghana, and anyone found culpable must be prosecuted,” he stated.
He urged the police to intensify investigations and appealed to residents to provide credible information to support the process. He also called on individuals linked to the incident to report themselves to the police, assuring that authorities would ensure due process is followed.
The case has once again highlighted concerns over mob justice and the persistence of witchcraft-related accusations in some communities, raising questions about law enforcement response and public awareness.
As investigations continue, the family of Nteja Ibotul remains resolute in its demand for justice, hoping those responsible will be identified and prosecuted.
