The Police in Eket, Nigeria have arrested a 34 year old man, Mr.
Albert Silvanus Uso for burning his stepson with hot knives before abandoning
him over witchcraft allegations.
Mr. Uso who hails from Edo, Esit Eket Local Government
Area, steamed knives in the fire and branded on his stepson, Victor severally
on different parts of his body after tying his both hands and legs to make sure
that he could not escape.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the arrest, The Divisional
Police Officer (DPO) of Eket, CSP Abdulkadir Jamal said he ordered his men to
go after the man because he had warned that child witch-branding
and torture of innocent children cannot be tolerated anywhere in the world.
"The Police have frequently warned that people should not
hide under any guise to abuse children. We will do everything under the law to
arrest and prosecute any offenders.
"We saw the wounds and scars on the child's body and we
consider it inhumane and Barbaric. It's not a sight you could stand, so I
ordered for his immediate arrest." The police boss
asserted.
Albert Uso was arrested penultimate Friday, 2:00
AM, in Efoi - Eket where he currently resides, after a complaint was lodged in
the Eket Divisional Police Headquarters by a children's right group, the
Child's Right and Rehabilitation Network (CRARN) an NGO that also caters for
abandoned children in Akwa Ibom State.
The victim, Victor was rescued by a CRARN volunteer team in a
nearby market when he crept out of the bush, scavenging for food during market
closed hours. He said he had been in the bush for several days without food and
eating merely raw leaves and unriped fruits.
Reacting to the arrest, the Founder and President of CRARN, Mr.
Sam Itauma expressed gratitude to the police for their swift action that leads
to the arrest of the culprit. He said his organization will continue partner
the police and other security agencies to curb the menace of children
victimization as result of witchcraft belief and related issues.
Itauma said 95% of children who suffered witchcraft related
abuses is the consequences of failed marriages, single parenthood and
dysfunctional family amidst extreme poverty. The charity worker called on the
government intensify its effort towards creating jobs and launch enlightenment
programmes that would demystify the witchcraft perception and beliefs
Tags
Society