Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Akwa Ibom Command have rescued a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly locked up for two years and subjected to inhumane treatment by her father and stepmother on the accusation that she was a witch.
The spokesperson of the corps in the state, SC Friday Ekerete, who disclosed this in a statement, said the father and stepmother have been arrested for child deprivation and abuse.
“The arrest was made on Tuesday, 10th September 2024 at Ikot Ukporo Idoro Village in Ibiono Ibom LGA of Akwa Ibom State following a complaint received from the Ministry of Justice about the suspect subjecting his daughter to inhumane treatment,” the statement read.
“The suspect, Mr Ndifreke Sunday Etok, ‘M’ 38years, and his wife, who is a stepmother to the girl, Mrs. Victory Fortune Sunday ‘F’ 28 years admitted to locking up the child but added that he did it because she confessed to being a witch and responsible for his afflictions. He added that the girl disappears for weeks whenever she is set free.
“The victim, Miss Bright Fortune Sunday, narrated her ordeal stating that she was kept locked up in a dilapidated room, denied food, bathing and subjected to consistent beating from her stepmother.
“She said that she was fed once every two days, allowed to bathe a maximum of twice a month and denied education. She added that she confessed to being a witch so that the parents can cease beating her.”
Parading the suspects before newsmen, Commandant Eluwade Eluyemi, stated that the despicable act contravenes Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended which guarantees the right to dignity of every Nigerian.
He condemned what the young girl was allegedly subjected to, describing it as barbaric, callous and heinous. He warned parents to desist from such acts under whatever excuse or guise, advising that rehabilitation homes exist to attend to suspected erratic behaviour.
The NSCDC boss pointed out that Akwa Ibom State has a free and compulsory education policy up to SS3 and emphasized that it is an offence to deny children education.
“The attention of members of the public is hereby drawn to Section 10 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2020 which states that: A person who denies another person of their freedom by locking them up, hiding or isolating them etc without the permission of the court has committed an offence and he/she will go to prison for 2 years or pay a fine of 500,000 naira or both.
“Same applies to a person who attempts, conspires or aids the act of deprivation of personal liberty,” he said
The girl has been handed over to Gender-Based Violence Shelter Home for care and rehabilitation, while the suspects will be handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agency for necessary action.