By Leo Igwe
YENAGOA (CONVERSEER) – The Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) is disappointed by the way the police and government in Bayelsa are handling the case of children abused for witchcraft in the state.
About a week ago, the police arrested an inspector, Sunday Idey, for accusing and subsequently abusing his children for belonging to a witch coven. People circulated images of the children with serious injuries on social media.
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches contacted advocates in the state, and they confirmed the story. They noted that the children were in a hospital receiving treatment. Given the severity of the abuses, AfAW, with Do Foundation, and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) applied to the Ministry for Women’s Affairs for temporary custody so that the children could be medically checked and rehabilitated before handing them over to the family.
AfAW urges the commissioner of police to ensure proper investigation and prosecution of the suspect.
Meanwhile, from the information reaching the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, the police have compromised on this matter. Regarding the investigation, the police had asked the suspect to go for a psychiatric test. Sources in Yenegoa are saying the police had asked him to go for the test outside the state.
AfAW had been informed that this was a way the police planned to get him to escape and evade prosecution. A legal expert in Yenegoa who heard about this development stated, “I have always suspected this. Why would it be the police who would evaluate the mental state of the perpetrator? If he wants to rely on insanity, we know that it is a defence, so it should be the defendant pleading it and proving the same, while the prosecution, whose duty is to prove guilt, counters the plea with superior evidence”. Apparently, the police are trying to exonerate the suspect without charging him in court. This is sad.
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches has messaged the Commissioner of Police (CP) notifying him about this concern: “Dear CP, I am writing concerning the case of a police inspector who has been arrested for abusing the children for witchcraft. We are worried about how the case is going and how it would reflect on your office and the credibility of the Nigerian Police. First, we have been informed that he has been recommended for a psychiatrist test, and the plan is for him to travel outside Bayelsa for this test. Meanwhile, we have been informed that there are competent doctors who can conduct this test in Bayelsa. That the idea to get him to go conduct the test outside is a pretext to help him evade justice”.
The CP did not respond to these messages. But the police public relations officer reassured AfAW that justice would be done.
In a related development, the Ministry of Women Affairs approved the application of the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, FIDA and Do Foundation to temporarily accommodate the children under their supervision pending the conclusion of the investigation. The emergency shelter has been rented, and caregivers have been contacted.
Unfortunately, the police have refused to release the children to the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, Do Foundation, and Ministry for Women’s Affairs. The investigating police officer and his team are working with the relatives of the suspect to take the children away.
The children still have bruises all over their bodies; one of them is walking with crutches. Their faces are swollen as a result of the beating. The children look traumatised.
The Advocacy for Alleged Witches urges the governor of Bayelsa, Duoye Diri, to intervene and ensure justice and protection for these children. As the governor, Diri should uphold the responsibility to protect these children. The wife of the governor, Dr (Mrs) Gloria Diri, can also help. She should utilise the office of the First Lady of the state to support these children from now on.
The world is watching and following the way this case is being handled and will hold state authorities in Bayelsa to account.
Leo Igwe, Director of the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, Columbia, Maryland, in the United States.
