Management of Universal Basic Education (UBE), Junior Secondary School, Nyiman layout, in Makurdi, Benue State has reportedly sent home seven female students over being possessed by ‘familiar spirit’.
According to PUNCH, four of the students suffered the attack on Friday and were sent home alongside three others on Monday after they had the same experience.
Headteacher of the school, Catherine Ahom, said the attack often starts with the student experiencing a seizure as well as chest pain.
Ahom added that some of the affected students will thereafter start to fall down while others would be running around.
She however revealed that the spiritual attack is known as ‘Iyor genen’ in Tiv language.
Confirming the incident, Education Secretary, Makurdi Local Government Area Education Authority (LGEA), Patrick Aese, said the attack is popular among a section of Tiv people in Benue State.
Aese explained;
Our forefathers inherited it from their fathers and it has been with us. If it were to be in the village that it happened, they have particular herbs they will administer and within an hour they will come back to normal.
It is most common during burial and in most cases while whistling or making noise. Some colours like red trigger it among the affected people and when attacked, the affected people will be running and manifesting uncommon strength.
Aese, however, said the attack was “not contagious neither is it transferable.”
