Residents of Ovia North-East Local Government Area in Edo State have detained a woman accused of throwing her five-year-old child into a river after she was allegedly told by a self-proclaimed seer in Benin City that the child was a python in human form.
The case came to light on Tuesday after videos of the woman speaking about the incident circulated on social media, sparking outrage across the country. In the clips, the woman said she had not been able to conceive again since giving birth to the five-year-old, who she also said had not been able to walk since birth. Seeking spiritual help, she visited a seer in Benin City.
“The seer told me that the child was a python and that if I did not get rid of the child, I would either continue giving birth to children with the same condition or never conceive again,” she said in the video. Acting on the seer’s instruction, she allegedly took the child to a river and threw the child in.
The videos have drawn strong condemnation online, with many Nigerians criticizing the influence of unregulated spiritualists and calling for action against harmful practices. As of the time of filing this report, the Edo State Police Command had not released an official statement on the incident or the woman’s detention.
Authorities in Ovia North-East are expected to investigate the matter and determine the child’s current condition.
