10-year-old boy thrown into river by aunt over alleged witchcraft

10-year-old orphan, Usen Okon, narrowly escaped death recently after being thrown into the Imo River in the Ikot Abesi area of Akwa Ibom state, by his aunt over witchcraft.

The boy is currently in care of a non-government organization, the Humanist Association for Peace and Social Tolerance Advancement and it's partner, Child's Rights and Rehabilitation Network.

Narrating how the incident happened, the senior Project Manager of the organisation, Mr Ayobami Ojedokun told PUNCH that Okon had been under the care of his paternal aunt, Ekaeyen, at Etebi community in the Esit Eket LGA of the state, since his parents died.

However, few days ago, Ekaeyen woke Okon up from sleep and took him to her husband and asked him to confess to being a wizard, after which she threatened to throw him into the river.

True to her words, on Nov 16, she took Okon to Imo River and threw him into the water with the hope that he would get drown.

"She actually threw Okon into the river thinking that the boy would get drown. The boy came out of the water alive and went home, only to be told that his auntie had relocated" Ojedokun said.