Operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Akwa Ibom Command have rescued a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly locked up and subjected to inhumane treatment by her father and stepmother for two years, under the accusation that she was a witch.
According to SC Friday Ekerete, the corps’ spokesperson in the state, the father and stepmother have been arrested on charges of child deprivation and abuse.
The arrest occurred on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at Ikot Ukporo Idoro Village in Ibiono Ibom LGA, following a complaint from the Ministry of Justice about the girl’s mistreatment.
The suspects, Mr. Ndifreke Sunday Etok, 38, and his wife, Mrs. Victory Fortune Sunday, 28, admitted to locking up the child. They claimed they did so because she had confessed to being a witch and was allegedly responsible for their misfortunes. They also claimed that the girl would disappear for weeks when freed.
The victim, Miss Bright Fortune Sunday, described her ordeal, revealing that she was kept in a dilapidated room, deprived of food and bathing, and subjected to frequent beatings by her stepmother.
The statement read: “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 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.”
During a press briefing, Commandant Eluwade Eluyemi condemned the actions of the suspects, stating that such behavior violates Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which guarantees every Nigerian’s right to dignity.
He denounced the mistreatment as barbaric and heinous and warned parents against such acts, advising that there are rehabilitation homes for dealing with suspected erratic behavior.
Eluyemi also emphasized that Akwa Ibom State has a free and compulsory education policy up to SS3, and denying children education is an offense.
He said: “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.”
The young girl has been placed in a Gender-Based Violence Shelter Home for care and rehabilitation, while the suspects will be transferred to the appropriate prosecuting agency for further action.
