Murder of 70-year-old: Ekiti faults police, calls for arrest of suspects

Posted by admin Ekiti, Headlines, State News Monday, July 16th, 2012

THE Ekiti State government has faulted the state police command for not making any arrest in the alleged murder of a 70-year-old woman, Mrs Rebecca Adewumi, in Omuo, Ekiti East Local Government Area of the state on allegations that she was a witch.

A statement by the state Ministry of Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment which also condemned the killing of the woman by some youths in the community, described the act as “criminal, barbaric and a contravention of laid down Sam Nwaoko, Ado Ekiti laws in Ekiti State.”

The statement, signed by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs Fola Richie-Adewusi, lamented what she said was “the failure of the police to make any arrest since June 30 when the incident occurred just because some prominent leaders in the community reportedly advised the police against wading into a witchcraft case.”

Richie-Adewusi said it was regrettable that “such an unfortunate incidence could still happen in this modern age,” adding that, “it was sad that the poor old woman was killed based on alleged dream by a little girl that she had a hand in the illness of her stepson.”

She said the signing into law of the Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence Prohibition Bill by Governor Kayode Fayemi in November last year had “made such barbaric act a criminal matter in Ekiti State with great consequences.”
Mrs Richie-Adewusi called on the police to brace up “for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the dastardly act.”

He pointed out that “the Gender-Based Violence includes: threats to commit acts liable to result in physical abuse, which includes slapping, beating, arm twisting, stabbing, strangling, burning, choking, kicking, threats with an object or weapon, murder and traditional practices which are harmful to health and well being.”

-Tribunewp_posts