A coffin maker identified as Papa Ogada, has reportedly dumped his 14-year-old son inside a well for allegedly casting an evil spell on his business which has hampered his progress.
The middle-aged man who hails from Oberete village in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, had been complaining that his son was a wizard, who had caused him serial misfortunes since he left his mother’s place and started living with him.
A source said: “The truth is that the man has been separated from the boy’s mother. Since the boy came back from his mother’s place where he lived, the man has been accusing him of being a wizard.
“He once told us that he had consulted many spiritualists, who told him that his son is a wizard and is behind the problems he has had in his business.
“We are not surprised that he went this far.”
According to Vanguard, Ogada contacted one of his friends, who helped him tie up the boy with his school uniform, books and other property and drove off at about 9p.m. to neighbouring Abiaka village, where they dumped him in an abandoned well.
Another source who resides in the Abiaka village, who was part of rescue efforts, said: “Some of us had already retired for the day when we started hearing shouts and cries coming from the location of the abandoned well, but we thought people were fighting.
“As the shouts increased, we summoned courage and got to the area and discovered that it was coming from the abandoned well. We got a rope and bucket, threw them inside and the boy managed to cling to and was pulled out.
“He was already weak with injuries. We thanked God the well had been out of use; he might not have survived.”
The boy was said to be receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital, while his father disappeared into the thin air and is yet to be located.
The Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ezekiel Onyeke, said the command is yet to get a report regarding the incident.
“I have contacted the DPOs of Eastern Ngwa and Ohuru Isimiri Divisions covering the Obingwa area; they said they are not aware of the incident. May be, it happened and was not reported,” he said.
