An elderly woman, identified as Kehinde Ojo, tragically lost her life after being lynched by a mob in the Oke-Ijeun area of Abeokuta on Tuesday, following allegations of witchcraft.

The incident, which has drawn widespread condemnation, was sparked by a claim from a prophetess of a white garment church in the area. According to reports, the prophetess alleged that the woman transformed from a bird into a human and landed on the church’s roof while she was praying.

Viral videos circulating on social media showed the frail woman lying in a pit, visibly weak and unable to speak. Witnesses reported that the prophetess, alongside members of the community, interrogated and accused her of witchcraft.

Ojo’s ordeal reportedly began on Monday evening, when she lost her way while trying to visit one of her sons who lives near the church. Her son, Kabir Kehinde, alleged that the prophetess and her son brutally assaulted his mother throughout the night and into the following day.

“My mother was not a witch; she was wrongly accused and beaten to death by the prophetess. Despite her repeated pleas of innocence, they continued beating her until she sustained severe injuries,” Kehinde said.

Police officers from the Ogun State Command eventually rescued the woman and took her to a hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries on Thursday while receiving treatment at the state general hospital.

A police source confirmed that the case had been transferred to the command headquarters for further investigation, and the prophetess, along with her son, had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Reacting to the allegations, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command, Omolola Odutola, said she was yet to be briefed on the matter.

The tragic incident has sparked outrage and renewed calls for an end to mob justice and superstition-fueled violence in Nigeria.