WITCHCRAFT (IFOT) ACCUSATIONS: MYTH OR REALITY? A FOCUS ON IKONETO VILLAGE IN ODUKPANI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study explores the socio-cultural implications of witchcraft accusations in Ikoneto village, Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. The objective of the study is to examine the extent to which these accusations stem from myths, superstition, and fear, rather than from any verifiable or empirical evidence. The study employs a qualitative research method, drawing on both primary and secondary sources, including scholarly journal articles, documented materials, and textbooks, as well as oral interviews and community reports. The study observed that witchcraft is largely a constructed belief system used to explain misfortune, illness, or death, and that such narratives disproportionately target vulnerable individuals, especially men and women, children, and the elderly. The consequences of these accusations often include social ostracism, psychological trauma, and, in extreme cases, physical harm or displacement. By situating the discussion within the Ikoneto experience, the study contributes to broader debates on human rights, cultural practices, and the tension between tradition and modernity in Africa. The study recommends a multi-stakeholder strategy to address the issue of witchcraft (Ifot) accusations involving traditional rulers, leaders of faith-based organisations, government authorities, and other relevant stakeholders. Key measures should be taken to include a community-wide awareness campaign against false accusations, enforcement of protective legal frameworks such as the Human Rights Law, integration of mental health education into public discourse, and the provision of psychosocial support to victims.