Operatives of the Ekeki Divisional Command of the Bayelsa State Police Command have rescued a Nine year old boy, Godday Simon Aprebo chained to a pole over allegation of being a wizard using voodoo against his family along the Agboli Street at Okutukutu area of Yenagoa Local Government area of the State.
Niger Delta Herald gathered that the Police arrested the 38 -year- old Step Mother, Peremoboere Botu, for allegedly putting the boy on chain over the allegation of using voodoo to cause misfortune for his father and trying to kill him.
It was gathered that the advocacy groups, Starrz Safety Initiative led by it’s Executive Director, Mary Bekeowei Accrah, FOMWAN led by Hajia Maryam Abeki quickly drew the attention of the Bayelsa State Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) led by it’s Chairman, Barr. Dise Ogbise over the boy’s suffering and reported accordingly to the police.
According to the victim, “my step mother and biological father chained him so that he will not run away and that he is a wizard.They claim I was the one that have been suffering my father and wants to kill him. They said I must confess.”
He claimed they have subjected him to series of punishments for him to confess to allege wizardry.
The accused biological father, identified as Simon Afrebo and a Prophet, is an indigene of Ogbia Local Government area and have since absconded.
The State Chairman of the gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT), Dise Ogbise Esq, who confirmed the development, described the incident as pathetic and another embarrassing case of domestic violence,”We are once again faced with another pathetic and embarrassing case of domestic Violence. We will say it again and again, no perpetrator of violence against children will go unpunished and this current case will not be an exception.”
“The prosperity Government of His Excellency Senator Douye Diri is poised to have a violence free state, free from even the abuse of children.”
She called on the Bayelsa State Police command to thoroughly investigate the issue and charge the culprits to court as soon as possible,”We will also take steps to offer psycho socio support to the child.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Starrz Safety Initiative, Mary Bekeowei Accrah, condemned the development, insisting that ” this kind of treatment from a father and a step mother is totally wrong as children are the future of tomorrow and I equally think the ignorance of parents towards issues of witchcraft and the like is too rampant. I urge all key stakeholders to do something fast about this.”
Confirming the development, the spokesman of the State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the development and said a discreet investigation is ongoing.
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