A group of worshippers at a crusade ground in Onyadama community, Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, have allegedly attacked a woman accused of witchcraft at church crusade.
Penpushing reports that the incident was reported to have occurred on March 13, 2026, while the victim of the attack was identified as Grace Ekoi, who appeared to be in her 50s, as sighted in a video.
The woman who sustained mob assault, was seen with at least eight individuals taking turns to flog her with long canes, and as the beating intensified, the woman attempted to run into the crowd, but more men, women, and people of various ages joined in the assault.
Penpushing further reports that a man’s voice could be heard on the microphone singing in the background as the congregants continued to clap, while the woman broke free at one point and ran towards the road.
The video showed that at some point, a man approached with a bottle of what appeared to be olive oil, which many Pentecostal Pastors in Nigeria use for “anointing” and “deliverance”, and the man briefly halted the assault, poured the oil on her, and directed that she be lifted, but moments later, the beating resumed.
Penpushing also reports that the victim later in an interview explained that she attended the crusade to seek healing for her 14-month-old child, who could not walk, adding that she was thereafter tagged a witch
‘They called me a witch. We went for crusade from Tuesday to Friday. As I was breastfeeding my baby, they called me, ‘Come, come.’ They said, ‘Stand here, witch!’ I said, ‘Witch how? I am not a witch. I thought you called me to pray for my baby.’”
Penpushing reports that the woman said the presiding pastor over the crusade ordered the attack, recalling that many people beat her as she kept screaming and saying she was not a witch
“That crusade pastor said, ‘Beat her.’ Many people beat me with sticks. I kept screaming that I was not a witch. They used their legs to march me. He held the microphone, ordered that I should be beaten. It was a mass beating. All they kept saying was that I was a witch and that they would kill me.”
Penpushing further reports that she said her hands were later tied behind her back, explaining that at some point, she swore an oath in desperation: if she was a witch, she should not see the next day.
The investigations conducted identified the crusade organiser as Usetu Bassey, who operates under the name Kabod International Church, while a review of his social media activity shows frequent night crusades across northern Cross River, particularly in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area.
Penpushing also reports that photos posted on his Facebook page over the past three years show similar patterns of women lying on bare ground during services, with young men holding canes nearby.
The Facebook post in December 10, 2024, showed at least seven women seen lying on the ground while others stood and watched, while another image from April 2,2023 showed a woman who lay on the floor appearing unconscious during a crusade session.
Penpushing reports that Bassey when contacted was not affirmative on the development, rather he said community leaders were present at the crusade in Onyadama, adding that it was a five day crusade
“I did a five days crusade at Onyadama, which the chief/clan head was present and every other leaders. Do you think I will just go to a community and ask them to beat their own?”, the cleric said
Penpushing further reports that the village head of Onyadama, Enang Erim, declined comment when contacted declaring that he could only speak with authorisation from the clan head, while as at the time of filing this report the clan head Vincent Erena, did not respond to the incident.
The Cross Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer Eitokpah Sunday said the Divisional Police Officer visited the community to verify the incident, adding that investigation into the incident had commenced
Penpushing also reports that Sunday stated that the community chief denied knowledge of the incident, however, independent findings showed that several weeks later, there have been no arrests or public information about investigations into the matter.
The police spokesperson, an assistant superintendent of police, said the woman was attacked following claims from a church prophecy labelling her a witch, adding that she received treatment and was later moved to another facility in Calabar.
Penpushing reports that Principal counsel at a human rights group, Basic Rights Counsel Initiative and member of Advocacy for Alleged Witches, James Ibor pointed out that the incident reflects a wider crisis in the state.
“This is just one of the cases that have come to light. There are many that are never reported. It has been about a month since this happened, and not even one arrest. The religious merchants constantly serve fear to maintain their grip on vulnerable populations,”
Penpushing further reports that Ibor blamed the attacks on people accused of witchcraft on a mix of poverty, weak institutions and what he described as religious profiteering, stating that his organisation has filed a petition to the police, but that they have yet to receive a response.
The human rights advocate said there were similar cases in Cross River which had not been resolved. recalling a lady in Akamkpa Local Government Area whose relative threatened several times to kill her after alleging that she was a witch, and later the woman went missing.
Penpushing also reports that he said another woman still in Akamkpa was burnt to death in broad daylight over accusations of witchcraft engineered by a religious leader, and to date, no one is standing trial, adding that a petition was written to the police and yet to take any action
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