When death enters a Nigerian family, grief sometimes gives way to accusation before the tears have dried. A neighbour becomes a suspect, an elderly woman becomes a witch, and a relative becomes an alleged enemy. Without evidence, suspicion passes for revelation, and mourning becomes a search for someone to punish.
This culture of blame thrives where fear, inadequate explanations and inherited beliefs collide. When a loved one dies suddenly, families understandably seek answers. But the inability to explain a tragedy does not establish supernatural interference. A medical uncertainty is not proof of witchcraft, a troubling dream is not a witness, and suspicion is not evidence. Grief deserves compassion, not an invented culprit.
The Bible condemns the reckless spirit behind such accusations. Exodus 20:16 commands, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” (Proverbs 18:17) teaches that the first account of a matter may appear convincing until another person examines it. These principles demand careful investigation, honest testimony and restraint. No Christian should turn an unverified suspicion into a public sentence against another human being.
Yet biblical Christianity does not require believers to deny spiritual realities. It requires them to exercise discernment. 1st John 4:1 instructs Christians to test the spirits, while 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says to test everything and hold fast to what is good. Testing is not the same as accusing. A prophecy, dream or spiritual impression must never become a licence to slander, persecute or attack someone without evidence.
Jesus Himself challenged the assumption that tragedy automatically proves a victim’s guilt. In Luke 13:1–5, He addressed people killed in disturbing circumstances and rejected the conclusion that they were greater sinners than others. His response redirected attention from speculation about blame towards humanity’s need for repentance. The lesson remains urgent: suffering does not give us permission to invent a culprit, and death does not automatically confirm anyone’s accusation.
Christianity also teaches that death is not the end of human existence. Hebrews 9:27 speaks of death followed by judgment, while John 11:25 records Jesus declaring Himself the resurrection and the life. For Christians, death brings earthly life to its close and confronts humanity with eternity, resurrection and accountability before God. This hope should deepen our reverence for life, not encourage fantasies about invisible enemies. Belief in eternity cannot prove that a neighbour caused someone’s death.
The late T.B. Joshua offered a memorable reflection on life’s brevity shortly before his death. According to him, “There is a time for everything—a time to come here and a time to return home after service.” The statement invites reflection on mortality and the purpose of life. It does not establish that every death results from witchcraft or that every tragedy has been caused by a human enemy. The Christian response to mortality must be watchfulness, faithful service and readiness to meet God, not a hunt for scapegoats.
Nigeria’s churches, families and communities must confront accusations that expose innocent people to humiliation, abandonment and violence. Pastors should comfort the bereaved without manufacturing enemies; families should seek credible answers rather than punish the vulnerable; and authorities should investigate suspicious deaths lawfully. The dead deserve dignity, the grieving deserve compassion, and the living deserve protection. When death visits a home, let truth guide the search for answers, Scripture discipline our conclusions, and love prevent grief from becoming persecution.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
08152094428 (SMS Only)
Views: 17
