Just in: They tried to force lizard into my mouth

DDM News

A 61-year-old farmer, Mr. Kingsley Ogbonna, has opened up about the trauma he endured after being falsely accused of murder in Amasiri, Ebonyi State.

Mr. Ogbonna, who hails from Eziama Eziakpude Ndukwe in Afikpo Local Government Area, said he was publicly disgraced and assaulted by members of his community over baseless claims.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that the incident occurred after Mr. Ogbonna returned to his ancestral village in 2017 to focus on farming, following a 15-year stint as a contractor in Abuja.

According to him, tensions began to rise after he voiced concerns over his exclusion from the proceeds of a communal land sale.

He said the land, which belonged to their lineage, was sold off by an elder without his consent or compensation.

In his words, “What happened to me stemmed from resentment. Many in my village saw me as an outsider after I returned from Abuja.”

The situation escalated on May 13, 2025, when he was summoned by the village elders under the pretext of settling a land-related issue.

Instead, he found himself at the center of a hostile gathering where he was accused of killing two elderly men from the village.

One of the accusers, a youth named Matthew, claimed Mr. Ogbonna had threatened him and was responsible for the deaths of his older relatives.

“I thought it was just village gossip, but things quickly turned ugly,” Ogbonna said.

He explained that both men had died of natural causes, one at 95 and the other at 83, and he never threatened them.

One of the deceased, a wealthy businessman, had a long-standing dispute with him over a fence boundary in 2013.

“He never liked me after that issue,” Mr. Ogbonna recounted. “But I had no power to challenge him. He was far richer than I was.”

He denied ever resorting to diabolical means or using charms, insisting that he had always depended on his Christian faith.

The worst of his ordeal came when the community attempted to subject him to a ritual practice meant to prove his innocence.

“They wanted to force a lizard into my mouth, but I refused,” he said with visible emotion.

His refusal led to a physical assault. “They beat me up and slapped me all over my body,” he added.

The act, which he described as both degrading and traumatic, was carried out in front of villagers, further adding to his humiliation.

Mr. Ogbonna believes the false allegations were rooted in jealousy and a desire to punish him for challenging the sale of communal land.

According to him, his return from the city had unsettled some individuals who viewed his independence and outspokenness as a threat.

He lamented that despite his efforts to reintegrate into the community and contribute through agriculture, he was still treated as an enemy.

The farmer now lives with the stigma of being wrongfully labelled a murderer and ritualist in his own hometown.

He called on relevant authorities and human rights groups to investigate the incident and protect citizens from such abuses in rural areas.

DDM notes that traditional practices in some rural communities still subject individuals to dangerous and degrading tests when accused of crimes.

The practice of forcing suspects to swallow live animals, such as lizards or insects, is used in some cultures as a supposed way of proving innocence or guilt.

Human rights advocates have consistently condemned these practices, calling them illegal, inhumane, and contrary to Nigeria’s constitutional protections.

Mr. Ogbonna’s ordeal is a reminder of the urgent need for legal literacy and protection of vulnerable persons in underserved areas.

Efforts to reach community leaders in Amasiri for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

The Ebonyi State Police Command has not issued a formal statement on the matter.

Meanwhile, civil society organizations have urged the state government to investigate and ensure justice is served to prevent a repeat of such abuse.

Mr. Ogbonna, despite the humiliation, says he remains hopeful and is gradually returning to his farm, determined not to give up on the life he chose after leaving the city.

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