A Calabar-based child’s rights organisation known as Basic Rights Counsel Initiative on Tuesday accused the police of lack of commitment to the prosecution of those that tortured kids accused of witchcraft.
Executive Secretary of Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, Mr. James Ibor, in a petition written to the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, noted that over six cases of tortured victims, who sustained various degrees of injuries, were reported over a period without commensurate response from the police.
In the petition titled, ‘Incessant cases of child witchcraft accusations in Calabar and failure of the police to investigate and bring culprits to book- a petition for your urgent intervention and necessary action,’ the organisation said it was acting to save the lives of helpless victims stigmatised as a result of being branded witches.
The organisation recalled the case of the six victims from various parts of Cross River State that were severely tortured and almost killed by their accusers, adding that all the cases were reported to the police but no commitment was seen.
The petition read in part, “We act for the best interest and welfare of the many helpless children in Cross River State who are victims of criminal witchcraft branding and stigmatisation.
“May it please you to know that most of these cases have been reported to the police but the police are often indifferent.
“We are by this letter most humbly calling for your urgent intervention, investigation and necessary action in the above named cases, especially with a view to bringing the culprits to book as required by law.”
In his reaction, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, said he had yet to receive the petition. He, however, promised to take necessary steps to address issues in the petition on receiving the complaint.
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