Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has ordered the state Police Command to arrest some youths that allegedly tortured and burnt to death a woman accused of being a witch, warning against jungle justice in the state.
A statement, yesterday, by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche, said the attention of the state government has been drawn to the dreadful video online with some news reports alleging burning to death of one Madam Martina Okey Itagbor of Old Netim in Akamkpa Local Council of the state by some unscrupulous youths.
Otu, according to the statement, finds the allegation, if proven true, to be repulsive and against all civility, noting that the state, like all parts of Nigeria, is governed by constitutional order.
The governor described the act as sheer savagery and cowardice for youths or anybody to take laws into their hands, more so, involving a helpless woman.
“Such abhorrent acts have no place in a constitutional democracy that Nigeria practices, which our state is part of.
“Our people must do away with all relics of culture that promote violence, murder and criminality such as in this instance. To this end, I am directing the Commissioner of Police in the state to mobilise all tactical and investigative assets to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice.
“I further wish to warn against all of such acts as we have laws and statutes to deal with issues of wrongdoings and disagreements,” the statement added.
The governor extended his deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, urging all community leaders, religious institutions and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to do more in the area of civic education.
