Villagers from Liokom village in the Wanihem community, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, on Wednesday, May 29, allegedly buried a man alive for beheading his elder brother.
The man was said to have been buried in the same grave with his slain brother by the angry villagers, Punch reports.
It was gathered that the incident happened a few weeks after the demise of their mother.
Local sources said the two brothers, identified simply as Ojemba and Obok, had no quarrel before the incident.
They said “Ojemba was the younger one. Obok came back from a wake service yesterday (Wednesday) morning and his wife gave him some food to eat before going to the farm to stake his yams.
“But while eating, Ojemba took the machete, which Obok had sharpened to cut yam stakes, and dealt three cuts on his brother from the behind and severed his head.”
The sources explained that Obok’s wife raised the alarm and the villagers gathered and tried to arrest Ojemba.
It was learnt that Ojemba escaped to his room, where he threatened to behead anyone who came close to him.
“He went inside his room, daring anyone to come close. But three young men defied the threat, went to his room and dragged him out,” the eyewitness added.
The sources explained the villagers had some discussions and concluded that the incident was an abomination and insisted that Ojemba too must die with his brother.
They added that “They tied his arms and legs and dumped him inside the grave they dug for his brother and placed his brother’s body on him and covered the grave with earth.
“He was begging and shouting that they should have mercy on him, but nobody listened. This happened a few weeks after their mother died.”
