Nigerian woman, 80, climbs electricity pole in bid to commit suicide - then finds herself branded a witch when she is not electrocuted

An 80-year-old woman was branded a witch after climbed an electricity pole but was not electrocuted.

The woman, from Nigeria, reportedly climbed up the pole in a suicide bid. 

She threw herself on to the cables but was not electrocuted, prompting some onlookers to accuse the pensioner of witchcraft. 

By the time she climbed down, a mob of people had gathered to see the woman. 

One rumour that reportedly circulated was that the woman had become entangled in the cables while flying home from a coven meeting. 

Images of the scene went viral in Nigeria.  

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One online commentator said: 'If she was a witch, she would not have needed to climb down the pole or to be helped by someone to go the last few feet.' 

Belief in witchcraft is widespread in Nigerian society and in particular in the Niger Delta region. 

The Ibibio of south-eastern Nigeria, for example, believe that certain people are witches who can impoverish, harm or kill others using magic. 

It is not known what happened to the woman once she was helped down from the pole.